NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is hosting the first ever round table conference on Jammu and Kashmir here, New Delhi Television reported Saturday.

    About 50 political and ethnic leaders from Indian-controlled Kashmir are attending the meeting.

    In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said he hoped the meeting would start a process by which there can be a workable blue print for the solution of the issue.

    "Let's construct a new Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh symbolized by peace, prosperity and people power," Singh said.

    National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who is attending the roundtable, said that without the inclusion of all concerned parties, no real solution could be found to the Kashmir issue.

    "There has been a setback and the problem is not between us and New Delhi. It is between the separatists and New Delhi and has to be addressed collectively by New Delhi and the separatists," said Abdullah.

    "This is not a law and order issue, it is not an economic issue. It is a political issue," he added. Enditem