India has opened talks with a representative of the Indian state of Kashmir on granting autonomy to the state.
Indian government sources said the first round of talks took place in New Delhi between Mr Arun Jaitly, a former Indian law minister and spokesman for the ruling BJP party, and Kashmir minister Mr Ghulam Mohiudin Shah.
"During the one-and-a-half hour talks the two leaders discussed ways to restore peace in the trouble-torn state," the government sources told journalists.
The Kashmir assembly in July 2000 passed a resolution urging New Delhi to grant autonomy to the scenic region except in the matters of defence, finance and communications.
The resolution was summarily rejected by New Delhi, which said it would further fuel separatist sentiments in Kashmir.
But Indian Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee 10 days ago conceded to Kashmir's demands by nominating Mr Jaitly as India's pointman to discuss the autonomy issue with the Kashmir government.
Kashmir enjoyed autonomy until 1953 and it continues to enjoy special status under article 370 of the Indian constitution. It has its own flag and no Indian can purchase land in the region. The BJP and other radical Hindu groups have been demanding the repeal of article 370.
The state has been ravaged since 1989 by an Islamic separatist insurgency that has left at least 36,500 people dead.
Guerrilla leaders based in Pakistani-administered Kashmir have categorically ruled out autonomy as a solution to the half-century dispute, saying Kashmiris had no desire to stay under Indian rule.
> AFP