Avebury admitted he was delighted to be permitted into Kashmir and saw it as manifestation of Indian government's softening stance on Kashmir. During his three-day ongoing Kashmir visit, Avebury met most of the secessionist political groups - Shabir Shah, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders, but was most overwhelmed to receive beeline of aggrieved Kashmiris, wherever he went.

Mothers whose son's disappeared after being picked up by security forces, victims of violence; Bar leaders, employees trade unionists, disgruntled employees, school children carrying placards with anti-India slogans, jobless youths - everyone looked up to the white-haired liberal democratic Angrez for redressal of their grievances. Avebury's visit had cheered up thesecessionist circles in Kashmir as he is seen as a staunch supporter of the `movement'.

Lord Avebury heads Kashmir Watch, an organisation, which had been blaming the violation of human rights of Kashmiris by Indian security forces and is also vice-chairman of the British Parliamentary Group on Human Rights.

Avebury dished out usual cliches on Kashmir situation but said ``human rights issue would ultimately force India to settle Kashmir''. He asserted that ``Kashmir's solution should ultimately be arrived at with the wishes of the people of the land''.

He held a 90-minute closed door talks with the moderate secessionist leader Shabir Shah. Shah has recently emerged a favourite of the visiting foreign dignitaries as he is seen as a moderate leader who opposes violence and cult of gun.

Avebury held a prolonged meeting with the Congress leader Mufti Mohommad Sayeed and several local Congress leaders. Mufti's daughter Mehbooba, a legislator had been speaking often on militancy and had rapped the FarooqAbdullah government for ``atrocities''.

However sources said Mufti had a close rapport with the British parliamentarian and the meeting assumed significance in the light of closeness the two sides enjoyed. Later during an informal chat with newspersons, Avebury remarked that people in Kashmir generally expressed their dissatisfaction with the local government while those living in Pakistan occupied Kashmir had expressed satisfaction of being part of Pakistan to him during his visit earlier.

Lord Avebury also met the Kashmiri Hindus who have been living in tented accommodations in Jammu after leaving Kashmir under militants threats. he expressed concern for the appalling conditions in which they have been living in exile. Avebury met the Home Minister L K Advani before his Kashmir trip. He told people that he would meet the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee after his return from Kashmir.