Srinagar: In a significant development, separatist Hurriyat Conference today (Dec 31, 2003) appealed to the Centre and militants to announce a ceasefire within Jammu and Kashmir, so that "historic" steps on resolving Kashmir dispute could be taken by India and Pakistan at the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit in Islamabad.

"We welcome the ceasefire on the border between India and Pakistan which has provided relief to the Armies of the two countries and the residents along the ceasefire line on either side. Now, we appeal to the Centre as well as the militants active in the State to hold their guns," Hurriyat chairman Maulana Mohammed Abbas Ansari said after a three-hour long meeting of the amalgam at its Rajbagh headquarters.

"Keeping in mind the global political trends, the militants should realise that issues can be resolved through dialogue," he said.

The Hurriyat chairman said the SAARC Summit provided an opportunity to India and Pakistan to take historic steps towards resolution of Kashmir issue and appealed to New Delhi and Islamabad not to let it "go begging".

He, however, said Kashmir issue could be resolved only through tripartite talks involving the representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir.