India to appoint body on Kashmir autonomy

"We decided to have a three or more member committee that will discuss autonomy," the agency quoted Indian home minister Shivraj Patil as telling reporters.

"The committee will come up with certain proposals which will be given to the home ministry. I will discuss them with the prime minister (Manmohan Singh). We will then examine the whole issue of autonomy," Patil said.

The Kashmir state legislative assembly in 2000 passed a resolution favouring autonomy for the region except in defence, finance and communication -- an arrangement that was in place before 1952.