Srinagar: Making it clear that the Centre was ready to hold unconditional talks with any separatist group, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today (Nov 6, 2004) said that Hurriyat Conference's demand for visiting Pakistan before holding parleys would be considered.

"We have put no condition for talks. If they (Hurriyat) have put a condition (to visit Pakistan) it is a different matter," Patil, who is on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir to have a first hand assessment of the situation, told reporters in Srinagar.

Patil said there was no restriction on people going to Pakistan or coming to India.

"If they (Hurriyat) follow proper method we will look into it, there should not be any problem", he said responding to a question on Hurriyat's demand for permission to its leaders to visit Pakistan before talks with the Centre.

Asked if the Centre would extend the offer of dialogue to all separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said, "The President, the Prime Minister and myself and other colleagues have been saying that we are ready for talks with anyone if it helps in reducing the level of violence. We have no problem."

Soon after his arrival in Srinagar on a three-day visit to the State, Patil held talks with Governor S K Sinha, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma.

On Chief Minister welcoming Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's latest proposal for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Patil said he would not like to make any comment on Sayeed's remarks.

"We have not studied the full proposal yet. We will make a comment only after going through it," Patil said.