Tuesday, July 19 2005 16:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: A landmark meeting between the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference and migrant Kashmiri Pandits, billed as an exercise to initiate their return to Kashmir valley, got underway here today (July 19, 2005) amidst boycott by some Pandit organisations.

At least 26 Jammu-based Kashmiri Pandits leaders, including prominent personalities like R L Bhan of All India Kashmiri Hindu Forum, P N Koul of Kashmiri Migrants Democratic Forum, Jeetendra Bakshi of Hindu Educational Society, Anil Dhar of Kashmiri Migrant Welfare Association, Desh Ratan Pandita of the All migrants Camps Co-ordination Committee arrived to a rousing reception at the Hurriyat headquarters.

The Hindu leaders were greeted by chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, former Hurriyat chiefs Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulana Abbas Ansari among others.

"The response has been good. It shows the urge of the Kashmiri Pandits to return to the valley," an overwhelmed Ansari said before the proceedings, adding that the aim of the conference was to re-establish communal harmony and composite culture of the valley that existed earlier."

The meeting, the first collective gathering between the two communities since militancy erupted 16 years ago, has been boycotted by prominent organisations like Kashmir Samiti and Panun Kashmir.