Ali Mohammad Sagar was, at the time of this interview in April 2001, a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir state government and a senior figure in the ruling National Conference, He spoke about Kashmiri sentiment towards India: 'people want to remain with India but with dignity and honour'. He also distinguished between militants 'who are local, they are part and parcel of the people of Kashmir - we will talk to them' and militants 'who are remote controlled, who are being directed from Pakistan ... we are treating them [as] our enemies'.