Centre’s interlocutors on Kashmir on Wednesday said the separatists had not responded to their formal invitation for talks so far but said they were ready to hold parleys with them at any time and away from the media glare.
“So far, we have not received any response from them.
If the separatists want to hold talks with us away from the media glare, we are prepared for this also,” journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, head of the Central team, told reporters here.
“I am not giving up hope. As and when they decide to hold talks with us, we are willing to meet them. We want to engage them in talks.
“We have, in fact, written a letter to them saying we are ready to meet them at any time and at any place of their choice,” Mr. Padgaonkar said
He said the team had requested them to send published documents giving their viewpoints on political settlement of the Kashmir issue.
“Till the time they respond, what do you expect us to do except renewing our hope that we will be able to meet them,” Mr. Padgaonkar said.
To a question, he said “any kind of dialogue that advances the interest of peace is fine with us. That includes talks away from the media exposure.”
