Manmohan in Srinagar, says Centre ready to talk to anyone shunning violence, but will not yield to terror

SRINAGAR: On a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday expressed government's readiness to talk to anyone who shuns violence but made it clear that it would not succumb to terrorists efforts to destabilise the state.

"I have always said that those who shun violence, we are ready to talk to them," he said in a brief interaction with select journalists. The Prime Minister was replying to a question whether the government was willing to consider holding talks with separatists Hurriyat Conference and others. Singh said Monday's terror attack in Srinagar that had claimed the lives of eight soldiers was "most unfortunate".

However, he hastened to add that "this should not frighten leaders or our opponents to conclude that we will succumb to terrorists efforts to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir, destabilise our economy. "I can only say that this is most reprehensible and cowardly act on the part of the terrorists."

The Centre has often made clear its intentions for holding a dialogue with the separatists and other organisations, who have not taken to arms. Moderate factions of Hurriyat Conference have always maintained that they would be ready to participate in any dialogue with the Centre but before that they would prefer some Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) like withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and repatriation of all Kashmiri prisoners lodged in various jails.