Senior separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chief, Shabir Ahmed Shah, on Tuesday objected to Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's statement that no talks would be held with "pro-Pakistan elements" in Jammu and Kashmir.
He alleged that the Centre was looking for excuses to avoid talks.
"No conditions should be attached to talks. You have to accept the hard reality that Pakistan is a party to the Kashmir dispute," Shah said.
"If the government is sincere, it should initiate the dialogue with an open mind," he said adding that talks were necessary for ending tensions and violence in the state.
"Till the root cause of the Kashmir problem is addressed, tension will prevail," Shah said.
On the steps taken by the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government to help resolve the state's problems, Shah termed them "ad hoc."
He said the government must first create an atmosphere for talks by "ending custodial killings and human rights violations" in the state.
