New Delhi: More than two months after Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was named to hold talks, an exercise is on to evolve a "mutually-convenient" date with the Hurriyat biding time to evolve a consensus among the groups.

The Government fears that pro-talks leaders might be targeted by those opposed to dialogue and has taken a number of steps to ensure their security, sources said today (Dec 29, 2003).

Hurriyat has conveyed to the Government that it would require more time before the talks could begin, the sources added.

"Pressure on pro-talk leaders and lack of consensus among the groups is holding up the talks," they said noting that the Deputy Prime Minister had already made himself available for last Saturday (Dec 27) but the "Hurriyat was not ready for that date".

The Hurriyat cited indisposition and hospitalisation of former chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as the reason for deferring the talks.

Hurriyat sources said the separatist leadership wants to observe the outcome of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit, particularly the gestures of India and Pakistan, before going ahead with the talks.

Three Hurriyat leaders, including chairman Abbas Ansari, were in New Delhi about a fortnight ago meeting diplomats and other prominent personalities of the US and certain other countries with regard to the proposed talks.

Hurriyat factions have been at loggerheads among themselves over the talks, with the hardline unit led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani condemning the pro-dialogue leaders for the move.

The latest efforts by Kashmir Bar Association, an erstwhile constituent of Hurriyat Conference, to unite rival factions of the separatist conglomerate ran into rough weather as Ansari categorically ruled out participation in a meeting scheduled for last Friday (Dec 26).

The Association had invited all the constituents of Syed Ali Shah-led Hurriyat and Ansari's Hurriyat besides other separatist groups including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front headed by Mohammad Yaseen Malik, Jamaat-e-Islami and Democratic Freedom Party led by Shabir Ahmad Shah to iron out their differences.

Possible fresh dates were discussed again late last week at the meeting of the co-ordination group comprising top Government officials and set up to prepare ground for such talks, the sources said.

There were indications that the first round of dialogue could take place around January 15 depending on convenience of both sides, they said.