New Delhi: The Defence Ministry is ready to allow mobile telephone services in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir but with certain conditions, highly placed sources said on July 30.

The views of the Defence Ministry were conveyed in a letter by its Secretary Ajay Prasad to Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswami on July 28.

The letter to the Home Ministry said that the Defence Ministry had no objections to allow cellular services in Jammu and Kashmir but with certain conditions that have to be met before start of mobile telephony, the sources said.

The communication said discussions on this issue were needed before giving the final nod for mobile telephony in the restive state, they said.

The Union Home Ministry has accorded sanction for commencement of the services earlier this year and passed on the file to Defence Ministry for clearance. The Defence Ministry had raised objections over erection of antennae within the Cantonment area in Srinagar citing building by-laws.

Commencement of mobile telephony was delayed at least on three occasions during this year.

According to earlier schedules, the service was to have been inaugurated on April 13.

The second time Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was scheduled to inaugurate it during his April visit. However, it was shelved citing technical reasons.

A third time President A P J Abdul Kalam was to inaugurate it but it again met with the same fate.

PTI