Srinagar: Welcoming Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's statement today (Nov 6, 2004) that the Government would consider allowing Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan, the moderate faction of the amalgam said this would push forward the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It is a welcome change as the future talks would be more meaningful and purposeful. If the Centre allows us to visit Pakistan ahead of the third round of talks, it will be a good move as it will push the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir forward," Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told.

Mirwaiz on Oct 30, 2004 had said that the Hurriyat would like to visit Pakistan before entering into any further talks with the Centre.

Farooq, however, ruled out meeting Patil during his visit saying, "There was no chance."

Another senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said he too was not planning to meet the Union Minister "as past experience has shown that it is a futile exercise."

Shah, who has been advocating trilateral talks between India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir for resolving the Kashmir issue, said, "I think that is the only way of finding a long-lasting and durable solution to the problem. Bilateralism will not help in this regard."