Kashmir militants plan Pakistan talks

Pakistan wants a reciprocal withdrawal from India

The main separatist alliance in Indian-administered Kashmir says it will meet other Kashmiri militants in Pakistan next month to discuss the latest peace initiatives by the Indian and Pakistani governments.

The decision by the All-Party Hurriyat Conference follows a meeting of the alliance in Srinagar, to forge a united strategy following two important developments on Wednesday:

• the Indian Government's decision to extend its unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir by a month
• Pakistan's announcement that it was withdrawing some of its troops from the line of control separating Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir

The BBC South Asia correspondent, Mike Wooldridge, says the Hurriyat decision to visit Pakistan so soon indicates that progress was made at the Srinagar meeting.

He says that some members had apparently argued that the trip should be delayed until India had made its long-term intentions on Kashmir clearer - in particular its readiness to seek a solution outside the framework of the Indian constitution.

: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed "positive signals" from India but said that they did not go far enough to meet Islamabad's call for dialogue.

Indian doubts

A Foreign Office spokesman accused India of reluctance to respond to its proposals.

But India cast doubt on Pakistan's claims that it had indeed withdrawn troops.

A relaxed mood prevails in Srinagar, though security remains tight

"We can't believe that it is possible for any army to start pulling out in such a short time," Defence Minister George Fernandes said.

Pakistan would need to use helicopters and buses to take its troops off the line of control, which runs over mountains and peaks in some places, he added.

Pakistan has called for a reciprocal withdrawal and for Hurriyat leaders to be allowed to visit Islamabad.

Our correspondent says it is unclear whether the separatists have received permission yet from the Indian Government to make the trip - though a spokesman said it would take place before 15 January.

'No clear response'

On Wednesday Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee extended a unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir by one month.

India needs to make up its mind on a meaningful dialogue process

Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman

Pakistan's troop withdrawal announcement followed shortly afterwards.

BBC correspondents say the moves are likely to ease tension in Kashmir, where 34,000 lives have been lost since a separatist insurgency began in 1989.

The Indian ceasefire, which began at the end of November, is the first to have been offered by Delhi in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Desire for peace

Pakistan has not given the exact strength of the troops it intends to withdraw from Kashmir.

Kashmir events

19 Nov - Vajpayee calls ceasefire

22 Nov - Suspected militants kill five Hindu and Sikh truck drivers

2 Dec - Pakistan calls "maximum restraint" policy

3 Dec - India outlines conditions for talks with Pakistan

20 Dec - Ceasefire extended

20 Dec - Pakistan announces troops withdrawn

A military statement said the move was aimed at demonstrating "earnest and genuine" desire to de-escalate the situation and facilitate meaningful dialogue over Kashmir.

The Hurriyat executive council welcomed the initiatives from both sides, and said they would help in the search for a solution to the Kashmir problem.

Mr Vajpayee, for his part, said that there was now a more optimistic mood in Kashmir and the "constituency for peace" had been expanded.

He said that a recent decline in activity by separatist militants in the disputed region and a reduction in exchanges of fire with Pakistani forces had prompted his decision to extend the ceasefire.

Talks between India and Pakistan broke off last year as they came to the brink of war over Kashmir.