Srinagar:
Thirty nine politicians of different ideologies, personalities and opinions touched down in Srinagar on Monday hoping to make a gentle landing in the volatile Kashmir valley. These politicians were seeking a united political consensus in a state that has seen 100 civilian deaths in the past three months.
Out on the streets, the security was stringent, the curfew complete and the netas from New Delhi perhaps got a sense - for the first time - of the barren stillness of life in Srinagar in these past few months.
Kicking off the meeting with state politicians the delegation's head - Home Minister P Chidambaram - set the rule: 15 minutes and make your point.
But as parties repeated their well-known positions, the National Conference (NC) pleaded for autonomy, the PDP for demilitarisation and unconditinal talks, it was away from the venue that some hope for a new beginning was taking root.
Though the Valley's three main separatists - Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik - had all said a 'No' to the formal invite from the delegation, the delegation chose not to stand on pride. Instead, they reached out to the separatists with a smaller group dropping in at the homes of all three men. (
Watch: Delegates reach Geelani's house)
Unconventionally, what unfolded did so in the full and public glare of TV cameras, making for some extraordinary moments and deeply awkward, and antithetical exchanges.
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Fauj ne control sambhala hai, aur fauj uahan jagaha jagaha jate hain. Koi check nahi hai (The area in under the control of the Army. They move freely, with absolutely no checks)," Geelani told a five-member delegation which included Sitaram Yechury, T R Baalu and Owasi.
And all the delegates could appeal for is to be given a "chance for peace and normalcy".
Breaking the ice was not easy, not even over a hot cup of tea. For example, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met the delegates wearing a black band in protest against the civilian killings. And once again what unfolded was Kashmir politics version of riveting reality TV.
"We are not against peace. And we agree that the Kashmir issue cannot be solved through street fights. But when we talk about Kashmir, we not only talk about that part which is in India but also include the one which is under Pakistan's control. So, first and foremost, this is a matter of the entire Kashmiri people," Mirwaiz told the delegates. (
Watch: All-party delegates meet Mirwaiz)
But the development was largely welcomed as the most broad thinking move today, even by those who personally stayed away from the meeting.
"I think it's a very welcome departure from the very routine kind of meetings which this delegation was having - meeting with mainstream parties and with government sponsored delegation and all that. They are trying to reach out," PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said. (
Watch: Meeting separatists a good start, Mehbooba tells NDTV)
In Srinagar, the most significant development of the all-party meet was the delegates' decision to reach out to key separatists and go and meet them at their homes. The delegates may have to hear things that made them deeply uncomfortable, the separatists are still refusing to call this a dialogue saying somebody dropping in for a cup of tea is very different from a dialogue process
But the fact is, after three months of violence, this was a sign that a stalemate may finally being broken.