Kashmir separatists 'ready for talks'

Shar meets Lisa Curtis (R), the senior advisor to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca earlier this week

NEW DELHI, India -- A leading Kashmiri separatist leader has ruled out participating in upcoming elections in the disputed region but has indicated a willingness to begin talks with New Delhi.

In the Indian capital to meet with officials Thursday, Shabir Shar -- leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party -- said that elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir were meaningless until dialogue was held.

"We are ready for talks, the government of India must clear its stand," Shah told Reuters news agency.

"Sometimes they say they will talk, then they say no talks. They should have a policy, I don't see any."

Shar, who has spent 20 years on and off in Indian jails, will meet officials in New Delhi from the Kashmir Committee, headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani.

Jethmalani is trying to persuade Shar to take part in the two-stage Kashmir elections, set for September and October.

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But Shar said he would not be involved or contest the elections.

"Elections have been held so many times in the past, they are meaningless. We don't have anything to do with them even from a distance," he told Reuters.

Indi has been battling a 13-year old revolt in Kashmir that has left tens of thousands dead.

New Delhi considers the whole of Kashmir to be an integral part of India and has said it it was willing to dsicuss greater autonomy in the disputed region.

Kashmir's main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, is also opposed to the elections.

That group is set to engage in talks with the Kashmir Committee but has said that the poll is not a substitute for a referendum which would determine the wishes of the Kashmiri people as to who ruled the region.

Among the candidates in the poll is the younger brother of Faooq Abullah, the chief minister of Jammu-Kashmir state.

Three former separatists are also competing.

Many people fear that separatist militants will step up violence in the lead up to and during the poll, with some guerilla groups warning residents not to participate in the election.

The militant groups want a vote on whether the Jammu-Kashmir -- India's only Muslim majority state should remain part of India or merge with Pakistan.

Reuters contributed to this report.