Friday, August 18 2006 15:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Dominant militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has said it is ready for talks with the Centre if it provides a solution to the Kashmir issue but made it clear that ceasefire should not be a condition to the dialogue process.

"If the dialogue process will bring any solution, we will be at the forefront in supporting it. Ceasefire should not be a condition for talks," Pakistan-occupied Kashmir based "supreme commander" of the outfit Syed Salahuddin said.

He was apparently reacting to the appeal of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to militants to lay down arms and join the dialogue process for establishing peace in the state.

Salahuddin said "if the world community insists on a ceasefire", the Centre should take confidence-building steps.

"We understand when a bullet is fired, it is the Kashmiri who suffers. It is his house, his school, his building which is razed down... But it does not mean we will give up our right," he told a local news agency.

On the demand of India for his extradition, he said, "I am in Kashmir. This is my land and I have every right to be here in my land".