A one-day peace conference hosted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ended with assurances from the prime minister aimed at pushing the peace process forward in Indian-Kashmir.
The prime minister announced Saturday that his government may soon release detained political leaders who are not being held on serious charges.
Mr. Singh met in New Delhi Saturday with representatives of pro-India parties as well as minority Hindu groups from Muslim-majority Kashmir.
But Kashmiri separatist leaders boycotted the talks. Some of them had demanded India first build confidence in Kashmir by releasing the political activists and reducing troop levels.
Mr. Singh says he is confident that Kashmiri leaders who stayed away from the conference will eventually join the dialogue when they see the benefits of taking part.
Some Kashmiri separatists are seeking independence from India, while others want to merge with Pakistan.