Srinagar, Sep 20 (IANS): An all-party delegation led by Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived here Monday morning to get a first hand impression of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir before taking steps to defuse escalating tensions.

The delegation is on a two-day visit to the state. Members of the team are scheduled to interact with the political leaders, representatives of trade and commerce, prominent citizens and the separatist leaders if they respond positively to the written invitations extended to them.

While hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has refused to meet the team, others, including moderate leaders Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, said they would only decide after receiving a written invitation.

"Now that a written invitation has gone to them, we expect a positive response," said state Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar.

The delegation landed at the Srinagar international airport amid tight security.

Curfew continued to be imposed across the Kashmir Valley to prevent violence.

The valley has been rocked by a cycle of violence with retaliatory firing by the security forces on stone-pelting mobs resulting in the death of 102 civilians, mostly teenagers and youth, in 102 days since June 11.