SUMIT HAKHOO
Jammu, Dec 17: Chief Interlocutor on Kashmir Daleep Padgaonkar on Friday said the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) were not a substitute to political settlement of Kashmir issue.
 “CBMs have to be implemented to facilitate the dialogue process. We are convinced that any step which may fulfill the aspirations of the people will be taken. CBMs are no substitute to political settlement of Kashmir issue,” Padgaonkar told reporters here on his arrival from New Delhi.
 Padgaonkar said the 3-member panel had recommended several CBMs . “We are sure the CBMs which need to be implemented immediately for creating conducive atmosphere will be put in place,” he added.
 "We are trying to evolve a broad based political settlement keeping in view aspirations of the people of three regions as well as various communities," Padgaonkar said.
 Referring to the setting up of "broad contours" for a political settlement of the Kashmir issue, he said, "We will visit various areas of Jammu region. We will start with Rajouri and Poonch border districts from tomorrow and hold talks with people."
 It is the third visit of the interlocutors to Jammu and Kashmir. Two of them, Dileep Padgaonkar and former central information commissioner M M Ansari, arrived here this morning while Prof Radha Kumar -  who is in Kabul  - is expected to join them on Saturday. The team would wind up their visit on December 23.
 Sources said that interlocutors interacted with some security officials on Friday afternoon.
 As per the programme, they would leave for Rajouri on December 19 and return to Jammu on December 20 to meet different delegations before leaving for Srinagar on December 21, sources added.
‘I DID NOT CRITICIZE OMAR’
 Padgaonkar denied having criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah or passing any remarks about his governance and termed the newspaper reports complete fabrication. 
 “The remarks and certain quotations in the newspaper that have been attributed to me are fabrication from end to end. Not a single word attributed to me is correct,” Padgaonkar said.  
 “We are not here to pass judgments. We are here to fulfill our mandate and the mandate is to focus tightly on trying to evolve a broad consensus on political settlement of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
 Padgaonkar called for viewing the interview he had with the journalist Syed Naqwi for drawing the actual conclusion and judging it fully.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST