PML(N) leader and former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif told them that he had laid an excellent foundation for this through the Lahore Declaration with former PM Vajpayee in February 1999, but the Army under Gen Musharraf had sabotaged it by staging the Kargil attack.
The most accommodating was cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan. He is believed to have told the delegation that they could frame their demands and give it to him, which he promised to reflect verbatim in his manifesto.
In other words, he told the separatist leaders that their formulation would be his party's position.
But the larger message was not lost on the Hurriyat leaders: no direct channel with the Indian government for, at least, a year.
This, insiders said, has also got New Delhi thinking that there is more than what meets the eye in this election year for Pakistan. Kayani, it may be noted, also finishes his term in September this year.
