New Delhi: The Centre should hold talks with both factions of Hurriyat Conference and militant groups like Hizbul Mujahideen in its bid to resolve the Kashmir issue, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has said.

"You have to talk to those who don't believe in accession. I want to be specific. You have to talk to them. You have to encourage them," he said in an interview to Karan Thapar for BBC programme 'Hardtalk India' to be telecast tomorrow (Nov 7).

The Chief Minister made it clear that he was talking about the breakaway faction of Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani as well as militant groups like the Hizbul Mujahideen.

"They (the Centre) have been talking in Mizoram to militant organisation. I don't think that option should be closed (in Kashmir)," Sayeed said.

Referring to the proposed talks between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulana Abbas Ansari, he said, "It should be unconditional. You can't put cart before horse. You can't decide before talking."

Asked whether subjects outside the Constitution could be taken up at the talks, the Chief Minister said, "That's to be discussed between the two."

He said Hurriyat would have their own agenda. "When they go to talk, they will talk. They will have their own terms to talk naturally."

PTI