Wednesday, August 31 2005 19:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Saif-ud-din Soz, who played a role in brokering the planned Centre-Hurriyat talks, today (August 31, 2005) said the dialogue was more important than how it was arranged.

"It doesn't matter who played the role. What is important is that Hurriyat has accepted the invitation for talks with the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh)," Soz, who had been active in ensuring the dialogue, told PTI here.

The 68-year-old leader, who played down his role as the man behind the scenes, said the Prime Minister had so many emissaries and he was one of them.

"Let us not go into the modalities as to how it happened. What is important is that Hurriyat has been properly invited," Soz said, adding, his aim was to promote dialogue as extremism was leading the state nowhere.

To a question as to why the back door diplomacy was not including separatist leaders like Yaseen Malik and Shabir Shah, Soz said, "I understand the Prime Minister has also said that Government of India's doors are open. Let us see who meets and when."

Soz said, "It was a great opportunity for what you call extremists to respond to the gesture of the Prime Minister, who says the doors are open for anyone to talk."

The Congress leader was responding to a question as to why he did not extend the back-channel diplomacy to other hardline separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and promote dialogue.

Soz's role acquires significance in view of the projected transfer of power to Congress by PDP under a power-sharing formula by which the next Chief Minister could be from Congress in a couple of months from now.

"No I am not in the running for any post," Soz said, adding, "My aim is to promote dialogue between Delhi and Kashmir."

Asked what could be the agenda of talks between the Hurriyat and the Prime Minister, he said, "The aim is to bring them to the negotiating table. Rest it is for them to talk about whatever issue they like."