PM ready to hold talks with militants: Soz

Srinagar, Jan 14 (UNI) Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was ready to hold talks with all Kashmiri groups, including the militant organisations, to hammer out a peaceful situation of all outstanding issues.

Addressing a news conference here, he appealed to all the political parties and the secessionist groups to join the ongoing dialogue process aimed at restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

About the ongoing India-Pakistan talks, Prof Soz said the dialogue process was moving in the right direction.

The visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Pakistan was a part of the process, he added.

Prof Soz expressed the hope that positive results would soon emerge from the dialogue process between the two countries.

The Prime Minister and the Indian leadership were sincere in resolving all issues with Pakistan bilaterally and in a peaceful manner, he added.

UNI