Monday, May 2 2005 09:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: In the backdrop of Pakistan's unhappiness at his posturing on Kashmir issue, hard-line separatist Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani yesterday (May 1, 2005) appeared to soften his stand seeking to reach out to the moderate faction saying it favoured coordination among parties, which view Kashmir as a "dispute".

"There is a need to have coordination at all levels among the parties, which consider Kashmir as a dispute and demand right of self-determination for Kashmiris," Geelani, who had split the Hurriyat in 2003, said in his address at the opening of the district office of his Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in Srinagar.

He said the coordination would be with organisations, which accept the constitution of his Hurriyat Conference.

Without naming any outfit, Geelani said, "I am extending an invitation to the organisations with open heart to have coordination."

Geelani had stayed away from a function of Pakistan national day in Delhi and had attacked that country's decision to reciprocate India's Confidence Building Measures (CBM) to enhance people-to-people contact accusing Islamabad of helping to deflect from the main issue.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who had a meeting with Geelani in Delhi, had on his return articulated his displeasure over the stand taken by Geelani.