Dehradun, Jan 14: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said here today he favoured talks with militant outfits and stressed that the dialogue process must come to a logical conclusion. "If the Centre can hold talks with militants in Mizoram, then the dialogue process in Kashmir must also reach a logical conclusion," the Chief Minister told a press conference when he was asked he if he favoured talks with militants.

Mufti's comments came a day after Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani formally invited the Hurriyat Conference for talks on January 22. But at the same time, he said that the dialogue should start first at the Hurriyat level which was a political arm of the separatists.

The Chief Minister welcomed the Centre's move to hold talks with the Hurriyat conference and expressed the hope that these will yield favourable results.

"There is a strong urge among the people of Jammu and Kashmir to have lasting peace in the state," Mufti said. Referring to the controversial Article 370 of the Constitution, he said the people of Jammu and Kashmir want more powers despite having separate constitutional provisions.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir want more, why do you want to snatch away from them what they already have?" he said.

Referring to the situation in Kashmir ,he said a discernible change has occurred ever since the dialogue process began between India and Pakistan.

" The firing along the border has decreased which I consider a turning point for the people ,who were till now living in turmoil," Mufti said.

Bureau Report