Separatist leader agrees to Delhi's dialogue offer

Srinagar: A major separatist leader in Indian Kashmir agreed on Tuesday to take part in direct talks with New Delhi to settle a six-decades-long dispute over the Himalayan province.

The decision by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq offers some hope in the long-stalled effort to resolve the conflict.

However, three previous rounds of talks ended in failure, and other separatists leaders appeared divided over whether to try again.

Farooq, head of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of separatist groups, said negotiations should eventually lead to three-way talks between Kashmiri leaders, India and Pakistan.

The Himalayan region is divided between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who both claim Kashmir in its entirety and have fought two wars over it.

Kashmir separatist groups have been fighting since 1989 to end Indian rule in the region.