Indian MPs meet jailed separatists

Indian politicians met detained Kashmiri separatists yesterday, despite a rebel boycott of government-sponsored talks to end the biggest independence uprising in Kashmir in over 20 years, but no breakthrough was expected.

Among the separatists were Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has emerged as the leading face of the anti-India demonstrations, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference.

The politicians were sent by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is accused of not taking seriously enough the protests in Kashmir this summer that caused over 100 deaths.