Senior leader of the Hurriyat Conference Abdul Ghani Lone has welcomed India's offer to hold talks with General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's chief executive.

Lone, along with Maulvi Umar Farooq -- one of Kashmir's most prominent religious leaders -- will be returning to Srinagar in a day or two, where they will sit with other leaders of the Hurriyat Conference and issue a formal response to the moves made by the Indian government.

"I hope sooner or later they will involve the Hurriyat Conference in order to make the talks successful," Lone told Onkar Singh in an interview in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon. Excerpts:

The Government of India has withdrawn the cease-fire in Jammu & Kashmir. What is the thinking in the Hurriyat about this step?

Much has been made of the decision of the Indian government to withdraw the cease-fire. I would like to ask you, where was the cease-fire?

For the first month, there was a cease-fire, but later it became a fraud. People were being harassed by the security forces. Citizens were being killed in custody. House were being looted. Women were being raped. From our point of view, since the cease-fire did not exist, its extension or withdrawal means nothing to us.

It was a big joke for the people of Kashmir. The government has done well to withdraw it.

The Government of India has extended an invitation to General Pervez Musharraf to hold talks on the Kashmir issue.

'After the first month, the cease-fire became a fraud'

If they have called him to talk to the Indian government on the issue of resolving the Kashmir problem, it is a welcome step. Both India and Pakistan have been caught in their own web. Pakistan has been saying all along that it will support the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination. India on its part had put a condition that it would talk to Pakistan only when it [Pakistan] stops trans-border terrorism. If they hold talks, it is good for the two countries. But we have to see whether it is good for the people of Kashmir as well.

It will be important to note what decision they take for those who are the principal party to the dispute -- the people of Kashmir. A nawabi attitude in this matter will not do.

Reports say Pakistan wants the involvement of the Hurriyat Conference and Pak-occupied Kashmir leaders in the talks.

If this is true, this is a welcome move. We are not saying we should be involved in the talks from day one. Even at a later stage we could become a party, because only tripartite talks will find an amicable and permanent solution.

But the Government of India is firm on its stand that there will be no tripartite talks on Kashmir. Does it mean the talks might run into problems before they take off?

If that happens, it would be unfortunate. This would expose both India and Pakistan.

But there are people like Shabir Shah and Hashim Qureshi who are also looking for an opportunity to have their share in the cake.

The Hurriyat Conference represents the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Nobody else can claim to represent the people of the state.

But Farooq Abdullah wants to hold elections in the state. If he does that, will you participate?

'We could become a party to the talks at a later stage. Only tripartite talks will find a permanent solution'

We are not running away from elections. But what is the point of having a wooden cat? If we participate in the election, will Farooq [Abdullah] let us win? He will rig the election like he did in 1996. He wants to install his son as the chief minister of the state and then become president of India.

Is it correct that the Hurriyat wanted Jaswant Singh as the interlocutor instead of K C Pant?

We wanted a man of stature to be the interlocutor. Since Jaswant Singh as foreign minister had that standing, we thought it would be better if he became the negotiator. But instead the Government of India chose K C Pant.

Is it true that someone had promised you that after the Government of India announced a unilateral cease-fire, if you welcomed the move, Vajpayee would invite the Hurriyat leaders for a cup of tea?

This was not said in so many words, but a suggestion was made that Prime Minister Vajpayee would invite us for a cup of tea after he announced a unilateral cease-fire.

The talks between the Government of India and Naga insurgent leaders have been going on for years now. If the talks between India and Pakistan do start, how long do you think it will take to conclude?

What is going on in Nagaland is of no interest to us. We are interested in a solution to the problem of Jammu & Kashmir. Of course negotiations take time. No time frame can be fixed for that.

Do you think there will be a reduction in violence once talks between India and Pakistan begin?

There are two key parties to the dispute. I am sure if they want violence can be reduced substantially.

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'We have fallen into a trap'
The ceasefire in J&K

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