Members of Kashmir's main separatist alliance, Hurriyat, will begin a crucial meeting today to decide its reply to an Indian invitation for talks aimed at bringing peace to the strife-torn Himalayan region.
The All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, which bands more than 20 religious and political groups, emerged undecided from discussions last week and said a final decision would be taken today after the group's general council met.
Krishan Chander Pant, deputy chairman of India's Planning Commission and a former minister, was asked by New Delhi earlier this month to lead peace talks with a broad range of groups in Kashmir including those fighting Indian rule.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the recent Indian offer with our other colleagues and take a discussion, Moulana Umar Farooq, a leader of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference told Reuters.
Last week, Hurriyat received a formal invitation from Pant for peace talks.
Hurriyat has said peace talks withi New Delhi would succeed only if they involved Pakistan besides India and local groups.