Monday, February 13 2006 18:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Feb 13 2006) invited Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chief Yasin Malik for talks on Kashmir issue here on February 17.

Malik is the second leader after Peoples Conference's Sajjad Lone to have been invited by the Prime Minister for talks on the Kashmir issue. Lone had held the talks last month.

Malik had earlier said that his party was not against dialogue and he would respond positively as and when he gets an invitation for the same.

The JKLF chief has been maintaining a low profile since infighting broke out in separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference over its control and he remained away from both - Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani groups.

Kashmir watchers in North and South Blocks consider Malik, the first one to rush across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir when the killer quake had struck in October last year, as one of the 'sensible' separatist leaders in the militancy-hit state.

On his release from jail in mid-90s, he had said he would follow Gandhian principles of non-violence. He also announced a unilateral ceasefire.