LONDON, Nov 19: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain on Friday welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's offer to all groups of Kashmiris for talks and described it as "a good omen".

Talking to reporters at the Heathrow airport on his return from a two-week visit to India, he said all Kashmiri groups should seize this opportunity to hold talks with New Delhi for finding peaceful ways to solve the Kashmir issue.

Answering a question, Mr Hussain said he did not think India had rejected the options floated by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to initiate a debate on Kashmir. He said India seemed to have realized its mistake of responding hastily to president's options, and the talks offer of the Indian Prime Minister should be seen in that context.

He proposed that both Pakistan and India should set up an observers' team and hold referendum in both parts to know what the people wanted. The people, he said, wanted peace between the two countries and if less than 50 per cent people voted in favour of peace, he would quit politics for ever, Mr Hussain said.

If a majority of people voted for peace then the two sides should resolve all their outstanding issues through dialogue and initiate steps such as starting a bus service, opening a visa office in Karachi and Khokrapar border to increase people-to-people contact, he said.

Answering a question, he said he would brief President Gen Pervez Musharraf on his talks with the Indian leaders. Asked when he intended to return to Pakistan, he said, whenever the Muttahida workers allowed him he would do so. Such an occasion would come one day. He opposed feudalism and pledged that he would continue to help bring an end to that system. -APP