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"If the government is sincere and serious in resolving Kashmir issue then it should extend a formal and unconditional invitation to separatist leaders for dialogue," he told two former Union government functionaries in Anantnag, 55 km from Srinagar.
Former foreign secretary, Salman Hyder and former secretary to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, P N Dhar, had called on Shah at his ancestral house in Anantnag. They were closeted with him for more than four hours.
The separatist leader said he had explained to the guests that "Kashmir is a political issue and needs a political solution".
"Repression and coercive methods cannot be a solution to the issue but these give birth to new problems," Shah told them.
"In view of changing world scenario, we need to find ways to resolve Kashmir issue peacefully through dialogue," Shah said, adding, "for an everlasting solution, a meaningful dialogue to end the problem is a must."
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