Shillong, March 16 (IANS) The first official-level talks between the central government and the separatist outfit Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) began in the Meghalaya capital Tuesday, officials here said.

'Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief and the centre's interlocutor P.C. Haldar started negotiations with the leaders of ANVC, one of the most powerful militant groups based in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district,' a senior Meghalaya government official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The official, however, refused to divulge any details or the progress of the first day's talks.

Haldar, who arrived in Shillong Monday, also held meetings with Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M.Sangma and other senior government officials. The state government reportedly expressed willingness for extension of ceasefire with the ANVC beyond March 31.

'We want autonomy for the Garo tribals. We also want peace but the government is delaying the process,' ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma told reporters ahead of the meeting.

The banned militant group, fighting for creation of Garoland Autonomous Council, had entered into a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the state government July 23, 2004.

The outfit two months back had threatened to break the truce if the central government failed to come forward with an 'acceptable solution' to its demands.

Responding to ANVC's threat to unilaterally end the ceasefire, Lapang had sent his deputy Sangma last week to New Delhi to impress upon the union home ministry on the need for extension of ceasefire.

'Mukul Sangma met Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and the latter immediately rushed the centre's negotiator to Shillong to hold talks with the ANVC,' the official added.

Another outlawed outfit, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), has been demanding a sovereign Khasi homeland in Meghalaya.

According to the Meghalaya police officials, the HNLC is closely linked to the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura.