Kashmiri militants released new photographs of their five Western hostages Sunday and established direct contact with negotiators for the first time.
The rebels are threatening to kill the hostages by dusk Monday unless the Indian government frees 21 members of their Al-Faran group, which seeks independence for Jammu-Kashmir state.Sources within the state government, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Al-Faran had established direct contact with the government and embassy officials from the United States, Britain, Germany and Norway. There was no official confirmation.
The militants tried to contact negotiators on Friday, but were foiled by faulty telephone lines.
The rebels released a color picture of each hostage - an American, two Britons, a German and a Norwegian - showing them sitting on metal chairs inside a room.
All five were barefoot, suggesting the photos probably were taken in a Kashmiri home, not in a nomadic hut where they were reportedly held after their capture less than two weeks ago. By tradition, Kashmiris do not wear shoes in their homes.