PDP-BJP govt in J&K likely by month end, open to Hurriyat talks

New Delhi: As the Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan was announced it gave a new ray of hope to the PDP. At present PDP is engaged in talks with BJP to form government in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP is now open to talk's with Hurriyat and this has given more confidence to PDP. According to PDP it will go some distance in building the right atmosphere, sources privy to the negotiations said.

As quoted by The Indian Express, a source said,” We have discussed the need to talk with the Hurriyat Conference. There are no major issues on this".

The two sides held talks for the third straight day on Friday, in what could be the last leg of negotiations between the two parties. The BJP and the PDP are set to formally announce their tie-up to form the state government soon.

The two parties have held more than a dozen rounds of talks in Jammu, Delhi and Mumbai over the past month-and-a-half.

On Wednesday, BJP sources said the two parties would form the government in J&K before the Budget Session begins on February 23.

PDP sources said they would rather hold extended talks, than show haste in forming a government without “properly understanding” their positions on core issues.

While both parties see an opportunity to make a difference, given BJP's absolute majority in Lok Sabha and its need to ally with the PDP in the state, they are also being exposed to each other's strong positions on AFSPA, Article 370 and talks with Hurriyat and Pakistan.