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India nominates IHK leaders for official haj delegation

NEW DELHI: The Indian government has nominated Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Congress chapter’s President Prof Saifuddin Soz to lead a 20-member official haj delegation to Jeddah, that departs Saturday night.

Previously, a union minister used to lead the official goodwill delegation for haj, as he could confer with Saudi counterparts. The team also includes four Kashmiris personally cleared by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which is seen here as a public relation exercise or a confidence building measure (CBM), before Singh holds talks with IHK separatists.

The delegation includes IHK High Court Justice Nisar Ahmed Kakroo, opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti and IHK Minister Ghulam Hasan Mir. Rabi Hasan Nadvi, rector of Islamic seminary Nadvatul Uloom, Lucknow, is also among the delegates is Soz, who intends to call on Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz during the visit, said his delegation would pray for India and Indians. “Since the prime minister has included four members from IHK in the delegation, we would particularly pray for the return of peace and normalcy to the region,” he added. iftikhar gilani

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