Tuesday, May 31 2005 07:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Ignoring India's reservations over Hurriyat leaders travelling to Islamabad by the Srinagar-Muzafarabad bus service on June 2, Pakistan yesterday (May 30, 2005) insisted their visit without passport and visa would not pose any problem and they would crossover from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani leaders as planned.

Pakistan also expressed "disappointed" at hard-line Hurriyat faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's decision not to visit the country and part of Kashmir under its control, saying his trip would have helped further the cause of peace.

Replying to questions on objections raised by India on the Pakistani invitation to Hurriyat leaders to travel from PoK to Islamabad for talks, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani told reporters in Islamabad that their "visit to Islamabad would not pose any problems".

He, however, declined to go into details of the permit system and said since the Hurriyat leaders fall under a special category they could travel anywhere in Pakistan once they arrive in Muzaffarabad.

On Geelani's decision, he said Pakistan is "disappointed" and "his visit certainly would have helped furthering the cause of peace...a warm welcome awaits for whoever (Hurriyat leaders) comes in response to Pakistan's invitation."

"We do not make any discrimination...the invitation for Geelani is always there and hope he will visit Pakistan," he said.

Leaders of moderate Hurriyat faction headed by Mirwaiz Farooq are expected to arrive in Muzaffarabad by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on June 2 and later travel to Islamabad by road to hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf and other leaders.

Geelani on Sunday (May 29, 2005) turned down Pakistan's invitation saying its decision was taken to express resentment against Islamabad for "deviating" from its principled stand on Kashmir.

Jilani claimed that Hurriyat leader had not blamed Pakistan for his decision and instead actually praised the Government and people of Pakistan and held India responsible for the current situation.

He said Geelani's statement about not visiting PoK had not been properly interpreted and was not an expression of his "displeasure" and that "Syed Ali Shah Geelani has certain reservations".

Responding to Geelani's criticism that Pakistan had changed its stand on Kashmir, Jilani asserted that Islamabad had not deviated from its traditional stand on resolution of Kashmir.

He said there were no major differences over the issue of settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. "There may be some minor differences on some issues, but there is no basic difference towards the solution of Kashmir issue."

He described the forthcoming visit of moderate Hurriyat leaders to Pakistan as a "new beginning" allowing them to interact with leaders in PoK and Pakistan and said the entire Hurriyat conference leadership is well respected in the country.