Delhi appoints interlocutors for J&K dialogue

New Delhi: The minister for home affairs, P Chidambaram said Wednesday that three interlocutors had been appointed to engage all sections of the Kashmiri population and that they would now begin a process of "sustained uninterrupted dialogue." The move comes as a follow-up to the initiative taken by the prime minister's office to despatch an all party delegation to Jammu & Kashmir to receive first hand inputs about the troubles inflicting that sensitive northern state.

The three interlocutors so appointed are eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, information commissioner Prof MM Ansari and academician Prof Radha Kumar.

"We hope that they will begin a process of sustained uninterrupted dialogue with all sections of people of Jammu & Kashmir, especially with youths and students and all shades of political opinion," Chidambaram told reporters here.

Chidambaram said the move was a clear demonstration of the seriousness of the government of India to find a solution to the Kashmir problem which has been there "for many, many years".

"I would appeal to all sections of people of Jammu & Kashmir and all shades of political opinion to engage with the interlocutors so that we can move forward on the path of finding a solution to the problem," he said.

Queried about the lack of a political background to any of the interlocutors, Chidambaram said all of them have been in public life for long and were well known to the people of India.