Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on Saturday welcomed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's proposal of "maximum self-governance" for Kashmir as a step in the right direction.

The hardline faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, however, said it was no permanent solution to the Kashmir issue.

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The Hurriyat moderates chose a guarded response, saying they would be flexible in their approach for a "durable solution."

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Sayeed said "the borders [between India and Pakistan] have to be soft to enable people-to-people contact."

He, however, said peace was a pre-requisite for the success of the peace process. "Violence has to come to an end," he said.