Tuesday, March 14 2006 15:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre should act quickly to involve Islamabad in a meaningful dialogue before opportunities started vanishing as people of Pakistan had a great hope from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, National Conference President Omar Abdullah said today (Mar 14 2006).

"The opportunities are shrinking with every passing day. The patience of (Pakistan) President (Pervez) Musharraf is also wearing out every day. He is the man on whom New Delhi can safely bet as he has the power to turn the tide in his country," Omar, who returned from his maiden visit to Pakistan last evening, told sources here.

About his separate 45-minute meeting with Musharraf, Omar was categoric in his words that "Musharraf is the man with whom New Delhi could do some serious business. Every suggestion from his side should be seen as an opportunity to enter into a debate and one should not be rigid towards a man who is flexible to a great extent."

"If he (Musharraf) could make a U-turn on Pakistan's Afghan policy, I am sure that if need be, he will change his Kashmir policy," he said.

Three-day visit to Pakistan

During his three-day visit to Pakistan, Omar said the people of that country had lot of expectations from the Prime Minister as they considered him to be "very serious" in finding a lasting solution to all bilateral issues between the two countries, including Kashmir.

"The doors have closed and the window is also closing. Why do we have to always make an entry through ventilator when we could have made it through a proper door?" the NC Chief asked.

Asked whether he had raised the issue of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said "I did put the question to him without mincing words. And his reply was also satisfactory to a great extent that he wanted violence to end.

"Musharraf also cited the example of burning down of tourist centre by militants on the eve of launching of bus service between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad in support of his arguement that terrorist groups were not under its control," the National Conference President said.

About Musharraf's much-talked self-governance and de-militaristion of some parts of the state, Omar said "These are ideas to spark off a debate with India, which obviously is not happening. New Delhi is not giving the man his due."

But, Omar was quick to add that after all "if the successive state governments have been claiming normalcy in some parts of the state, then they should withdraw the troops at least to barracks and hand over the law and order to the local police."

About his party's autonomy demand, Omar said "he (Musharraf) did give me a patient hearing and also tried to understand the stand of my party clearly. I also made it clear that there was a very little difference between the self-rule and the demand of my party."

"These are ideas that work and restoration of autonomy is the best possible solution," Omar added.