KL Report
SRINAGAR
Noted political analyst and track II diplomat O P Shah today called on Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani at his Srinagar residence. Shah, who heads the Centre for Peace and Progress, recently held a two day seminar titled “Indo-Pak relations-The road ahead” at a local hotel here on June 11.
“I met Geelani briefly. He was affectionate and courteous and desired early resolution (of K-issue) and Indian state to be more sensitive and humane,” OP Shah told a local news agency, KNS over Phone. Shah said the octogenarian leader complained about his house arrest. “He agreed to meet (us) and discuss (the issue) during his next visit to Delhi in December,” Shah told KNS.
“I hope civil society of India will soon have fruitful and meaningful dialogue with Geelani,” OP Shah said.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (G) Chairman confirmed his meeting with Shah. “It was a brief unofficial visit and he asked about my health condition while on way to Airport,” Geelani told KNS.
He said that though Shah suggested meeting the civil society ‘but it was made clear to him that talks should not be a means for buying time as even talks with civil society have not been productive’.
“He came to me as a guest and I told him that India has created an atmosphere of terror in the valley. I told him I have not been allowed to move out freely since 2010 and that since March 7 my residence has been turned into a virtual jail. Even I am not being allowed to offer Friday prayers,” Geelani said and added that he had told Shah that he would consider and think about meeting the Indian civil society in the month of December.
