Thursday, March 30 2006 18:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Supporting resolution of the Kashmir issue through talks, a Pakistan-occupied Kashmir based amalgam of 13 militant outfits has said that ceasefire should not be a precondition for dialogue process to move forward.

"Militant leaders will come overground at an appropriate time. They are set to go active on political and diplomatic fronts provided the dialogue process moved forward without making ceasefire a precondition," United Jihad Council chairman and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen supremo Syed Salahuddin told a local sources in an interview.

Slamming the dialogue process initiated by the moderate leadership of Hurriyat Conference, Salahudin said it had so far failed to produce any breakthrough in terms of resolution of the Kashmir issue.

He said militants would consider a ceasefire only if the Indian government acknowledged the disputed nature of the Kashmir issue.

"Not only HuM but also the entire militant leadership will consider the proposal for ceasefire only if Indian government acknowledged the disputed and tripartite nature of Kashmir issue and initiated serious and sincere efforts to resolve the vexed problem," he added.

He said the Hurriyat will have to address various issues and hardships faced by the public to win popular support.