London, Nov 6 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has strongly criticised Kashmiri separatist groups for staying away from talks with the Indian government and alleged that such groups were against peace in the state.

Claiming that there had been an improvement in the state despite a rise in infiltration from across the border this year, he said that there was "no Aladdin lamp" that could solve the Kashmir problem overnight.

Speaking to the BBC Hindi service Sunday, Azad said: "We had appealed to all individuals, groups and parties to join the talks and be a part of the roundtable conferences.

"The prime minister had said all those who want peace in the state should come forward, but if someone does not believe in talks and peace, then what can be done. President Musharraf has been saying that people of Kashmir should sit down together and try to reach a solution.

"But if some of the groups who claim to represent Kashmiris do not want peace then what can we do. We get a feeling that those who have been reluctant to join the dialogue process actually do not want peace and normalcy in the state, otherwise why should anyone who claims to be working towards a solution shy away from the talks table?"

Azad, however, did not name any separatist group.

Rejecting criticism that he had failed in initiating a political move towards a solution of the Kashmir issue during the past year, Azad said: "There is no Alladin lamp to solve the Kashmir issue overnight. Unlike any other state of the country, where you have to deal only with your own people, in this state you have to deal with Pakistan, its army, infiltrators and terrorists.

"You can make your own people understand, but when external forces are involved, first of all international politics has to be taken care of. Our state has been a victim of religious exploitation and external interference during the past six decades. Both these elements have been in the state mainly due to Pakistan, which has been active in our state all this while and we have seen many examples of religious exploitation in the world, we are one of them".

Expressing hope that the forthcoming foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan this month in New Delhi would take the peace process forward, Azad said that during the past three years the peace process had led to silencing of guns on the borders from both sides and the people of the state had felt the difference.

"Talks are on at two levels. Firstly what the state government is briefing the centre, and secondly the talks between the two countries. It is important that infiltration should come down.

"I am saying this because this year the infiltration has gone up. In fact, it has more than doubled this year compared to last year. But look at the difference, despite the rise in infiltration, the situation in the state has improved.

"Number of killings has gone down, and so have the cases of human rights violations, custodial deaths and disappearances as also the alleged atrocities by security forces", Azad said.