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Srinagar: In a significant move, pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen on July1 said it was ready to extend its co-operation to the Indo-Pak initiatives for resolution of the Kashmir issue through peaceful means and dialogue.

"We are pursuing wait-and-watch policy on the ongoing developments on Kashmir. We are ready to extend our co-operation at the right time to the initiatives taken by India and Pakistan," the outfit's spokesman Junaidul Islam told a local news agency in a statement.

The outfit, known for its hardline approach and oft-repeated assertions that 'jihad' (holy war) was the only way to solve the Kashmir issue, said it wanted the Kashmir issue to be solved through peaceful means and dialogue.

The spokesman, however said, it was "imperative that the government of India moves forward for talks with sincerity".

Welcoming the Indo-Pak peace moves, he said the two countries have made a "new beginning" for resolving the Kashmir issue.

Referring to the statement of President A P J Abdul Kalam during his just-concluded visit to the state that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, he said, "The President must not ignore the reality. After judging the facts, he must accept the long pending demand of Kashmiris and adopt a realistic approach. Kalam must work for a meaningful talks between India, Pakistan and Kashmiris."

PTI