One of the Kashmiri separatists, whose release from jail was secured by the hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet in December, is to lead a new political party.

Moulana Masood Azhar launched the new party, the Army of Mohammed, at a press conference in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

Another cleric involved in the organisation said it was a religious duty to free Kashmir from Indian rule.

India released Moulana Azhar and two other Kashmiri separatists at the end of last year in return for the safe release of hostages being held on the Indian jet at Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service