NEW DELHI, Nov 29: India on Monday unveiled a new "strategy" to achieve peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir which, however, appeared to assign little or no role to composite dialogue with Pakistan otherwise seen as the original roadmap.

The strategy leans heavily on "accelerating" economic development of the strife-torn region by expediting pending infrastructure projects such as railways, roads and power projects, an official statement said.

In what could be a new beginning to tackle the scourge of unemployment, the government proposes to induct Kashmiris from border regions into the army and paramilitary security forces.

"Raising of additional India Reserve Battalions, battalions of central police forces and battalions of army from remote and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir to prevent alienation of youth" would be the way ahead.

India does not regard the All Parties Hurriyat Conference as the sole or even the main representative of Kashmiris. Monday's statement thus clarifies that one plank for development and peace in the region would include "initializing a dialogue with all groups in Jammu and Kashmir, especially those who eschew the path of violence".

"Interaction with people of Pakistan" is another pillar of the proposed strategy for peace in Kashmir. By "promoting interaction with people of Pakistan and pursuing the opening of Jammu-Sialkot, Uri-Muzaffarabad and Kargil-Skardu roads" the government hopes to "help people to people contacts and open up trade".

This is the closest India has come to acknowledging its interest in a range of travel options across the Line of Control, the Kargil-Skardu road being a relatively new element in the publicly discussed possibilities.

There was no mention of the otherwise talked of Poonch-Kotli bus service in the strategy. Talks on these issues are scheduled between the two countries in New Delhi on December 7-8.

The government statement said that the new strategy was drawn up following Indian Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil's visit to Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month where he met various groups of people. Hurriyat representatives declined to meet him.

Listing security measures as a requirement for peace, the statement said that it would seek the "up gradation of communication equipment, gadgets, weaponry and ammunition and training in skills and technology for security forces and intelligence agencies".

Human rights violations by Indian security forces had to be "avoided". It therefore proposes "prompt, expeditious and transparent enquiries; strict action against offenders; reiteration of instructions and training for humane behaviour by security forces". And finally, "intense involvement of media in the process of reconstruction" is another key feature of India's new Kashmir strategy.