More than two months after it banned pre-paid mobile connections in Jammu and Kashmir citing security concerns, the government revoked the ban, but with stringent terms for identity verification. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday welcomed the move, saying it would bring relief to lakhs of customers.

The decision to lift the ban was taken late Wednesday after several rounds of talks over the past one month between the home ministry, the telecom ministry, the state government and mobile telephone service providers. The issue was earlier even taken to the Supreme Court.

"Based on these discussions, the telecom ministry has laid new guidelines for re-verification of existing subscribers and verification of new subscribers for both pre-paid and post-paid SIM cards," said a telecom ministry statement.

Mobile service providers have to "adhere scrupulously" to the new guidelines, the statement said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his gratitude to union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for lifting the ban, which had affected nearly 3.8 million subscribers in Jammu and kashmir.

In a statement in Jammu, the chief minster said revocation of the ban "would go a long way in meeting the requirements of the vast number of subscribers", and has come as relief to lakhs of subscribers and the thousands of young people who are engaged in this activity.

Mobile service providers have to "adhere scrupulously" to the new guidelines laid down by the telecom ministry.