Leave Constitution, Talk Humanitarian: PM

The prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today asked all the militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir to come forward for talks with the Centre. While rejecting the possibility of Pakistan's involvement in the peace process initiated with the Hizbul Mujahideen, he, however, made a significant departure from the oft-imposed rider of holding talks within the, frame work of Indian constitution.

- Observer News Service

"Our doors are open. I appeal to all militant groups and organisations, which believe in peace, to join the centre's efforts for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue," Vajpayee told media persons here after leading a delegation of major political parties at Pahalgam.

Asked whether Pakistan would be invited to form part of the peace process, Vajpayee said, there is no question of Pakistan's involvement.” Holding Islamabad responsible for the killings, he said the absence of unequivocal condemnation by Pakistan makes it all the more a suspect Pakistan must come clean as its silence on the massacres would further affect the bilateral dialogue process.