Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani on Wednesday said the Centre's decision that Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani would hold talks with the Hurriyat Conference should have come a year earlier.

"But better late than never. I think it is a useful step. I hope it will be properly exploited,' he told reporters in Delhi.

Jethmalani said he had misgivings about Advani's earlier stand of opposing talks with the Hurriyat, a stand which has "diluted" the people's confidence in 'the Centre's sincerity about dialogue'.