Saturday, June 18 2005 10:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Varanasi: The Centre today (Jun 18, 2005) welcomed the moderate Hurriyat faction's call for unconditional talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying it was always prepared to engage separatist organisations in the dialogue process for restoring peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Centre has been of the view that various outfits seeking to represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir must participate in the dialogue process for restoring peace and normalcy in the State, as problems could not be solved through gun, Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal told reporters in Varanasi.

Government was ready to engage the Hurriyat Conference in the dialogue process for ushering in peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, he said and welcomed separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's call for holding unconditional talks with the Prime Minister.

On the present situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the State has returned to the path of peace and normalcy as reflected in the spurt in tourist inflow, which was the highest in the last 20 years.

The Centre has also extended the duration of the Amarnath Yatra to 45 days this season in the wake of fast improving law and order situation in the Jammu and Kashmir, he added.