Chidambaram favours 'quiet talks' to resolve Kashmir problem - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday told members of the Rajya Sabha that he favoured for a 'quiet dialogue' with a faction of the All Party Hurriyat Conference. Replying to a question on holding talks with Hurriyat leaders Chidambaram said: "I am in favour of quiet talks, and quiet diplomacy far off from the glare of the media." "At the appropriate stage, I will share with the House the contours of the settlement that may emerge," he added. Chidambaram informed the House: "The Prime Minister and I offered to talk to every shade of public opinion. The response has been encouraging." Earlier, in November, a section of the media reported that Chidambaram was holding silent dialogue with APHC (Freedom) led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq. Chidambaram had also indicated that talks with Kashmiri separatist leaders would be held silently and out of the media glare. Farooq also had denied holding any 'silent' discussions with Centre but acknowledged, "There have been some back-channel contacts between the Hurriyat and the government." The Hurriyat has urged New Delhi to pull out troops, release prisoners and end human rights violations before resuming peace talks.