No differences with Farooq on resolving Kashmir issue — George

“Farooq has recognised that we should be talking to Kashmiri militant groups like the Hizbul Mujhaedeen. When you talk you are discussing how and why of what has been happening in the State,” Fernandes said on the fringes of the annual National Cadet Corp (NCC) meeting here.

“So when we talk to militant groups, it is a means to find out the `how’ of resolving the issue and that is what is meant by `political’ problem,” the Minister said.

Asked about the forthcoming visit of the Myanmar military junta strongman, Maung Aye, the Defence Minister said it was aimed at taking measures to deal with insurgency problems in the North-east.

Maung Aye, vice chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council would be arriving here on a week-long visit tomorrow. The first three days of his stay would essentially be a private affair of going on a Buddhist pilgrimage circuit tour from Bodh Gaya.

The Myanmar leader, who is also the effective head of the country’s army, starts his official engagements in the capital from November 17.

Fernandes said talks between the two sides would focus on curbing militancy and avoiding border clashes like that which happened near Nagaland-Myanmar border early this month.

“Myanmar like us is also affected as militants keep on criss-crossing the borders and often taken shelter on the Myanmarese side. They are also having trouble like us in dealing with these insurgents,” Fernandes said.