Hurriyat team gears up to meet Pak PM

The Hurriyat’s Executive Council is meeting on Thursday to pick a team that will meet Aziz and devise future strategies in the wake of the PM’s visit to J-K. Mirwaiz, who welcomed the ‘‘demilitarisation’’, said today that the Hurriyat would monitor the reduction of troops. ‘‘If they are thinking of trimming troop deployment on the LoC, it makes no difference. The PM should announce lifting of the security bunkers and road blocks in residential areas, so that people can move around freely,’’ he said.

‘‘If his (PM’s) approach to Kashmir is political rather than economic, we will welcome his visit,’’ said Mirwaiz. He rebutted reports that the Hurriyat is prepared to talk to the PM before visiting Pakistan. ‘‘We have held two rounds of talks with the Centre and now we want to visit Pakistan to hold discussions with the establishment of Pakistan and of Azad Kashmir…’’