Wednesday, April 13 2005 08:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: British High Commissioner to India Sir Michael Arthur yesterday (Apr 12, 2005) met top Kashmiri separatist leaders in Srinagar even as he disapproved ongoing militancy in the State and said only a credible political process could solve Kashmir problem.

"It is clear that violence will never solve the problem as lives of Kashmiris have been disrupted for a decade and a half," Arthur, on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, said.

"Only a credible political process can do this (resolve Kashmir issue)," he said.

Referring to the attack on the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar on the eve of the inaugural run of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, Arthur said this showed militants were out of touch with wishes of ordinary Kashmiris.

Terming the launch of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service as an important development, he said it had been warmly welcomed by the vast majority of Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

He congratulated both India and Pakistan for their flexibility and vision which had made the bus service a reality.

Soon after his arrival in Srinagar, the British High Commissioner met top separatist leaders including Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik.

Shah said he discussed a number of issues concerning the lingering Kashmir problem during his one-and-a-hour meeting with Arthur.

"I briefed him about the prevailing situation in the State and steps needed to be taken to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with wishes and aspirations of people of the State," Shah told sources.

The opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road also figured in the meeting, Shah said.

The British team also met several moderate Hurriyat Conference leaders, including its chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and former chairman Moulvi Abbas Ansari.

The prevailing situation in Kashmir came up for discussion during an hour-long meeting, a spokesman of the moderate faction told sources.

The British team also visited Maisuma, headquarters of the JKLF in the heart of the city. They also went to the residence of its chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik.

Malik briefed them about genesis of the Kashmir issue and the need for inclusion of Kashmiris in the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan, JKLF sources said.