PM in Kashmir on Nov 17 & 18

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will visit Kashmir on November 17 and 18.

Also Read Hurriyat for Pak trip before talks

The prime minister, during his stay in the Valley, is likely to have intensive discussions with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and senior defence officials on the security scenario.

There is no word yet from the prime minister's office whether a meeting has been scheduled with the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will visit Kashmir on November 6, 7 and 8 to "do the groundwork for Dr Singh's visit."

Patil on Tuesday held a meeting with senior officials of his ministry, army generals and Border Security Force commanders to discuss Kashmir. N N Vohra, government interlocutor on Kashmir, was also present at the meeting.

"The meeting discussed security related issues and other matters but at no point of time talks with All Parties Hurriyat Conference was discussed," Vohra later told reporters.

Though Vohra said a formal invitation has been sent to the Hurriyat Conference for talks, Jaiswal denied this.

Contacted on phone, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, former chairman of APHC, told rediff.com from Srinagar that the organisation has not received any invitation from the government. "We are fasting and we would not be holding
any talks during Ramzan," Ansari said.