The Government of India’s special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma is visiting Valley next week and is expected to meet various delegations for over a week’s time.
Confirming his visit, Sharma told KNS over phone from New Delhi that he is coming to Kashmir after December 24 and is expected to meet people from cross sections of the society here. “Yes, I am coming to Kashmir by next week and I will chalk out the strategy for my forthcoming visit,” Sharma told KNS.
When asked whether he is going to again try to meet the Hurriyat leadership that has so far expressed reluctance in meeting him, Sharma, guarded in his words, said he will see what his next Kashmir visit is going to yield. “So far I can only tell you that I am coming and it hasn’t been yet decided that whether I am going to meet any specific delegation or group,” Sharma told KNS.
On 6 November, this year, Sharma embarked on his first visit to the state as the GOI appointed interlocutor. His appointment was termed by the government as a major initiative for the efforts related to the sustenance of peace in the strife torn Kashmir Valley.
On November 24, this year, Sharma made his second visit to Valley and met people in south Kashmir.
Sharma’s next week visit will be his 3rd one on the past two months and is likely to meet government and civil society actors to know the progress of government initiative of first time amnesty to the stone pelters. (KNS)