THE fate of student hostage Paul Wells looked more optimistic today than it has in almost three months.

The Foreign Office said the Indian Government was confident of the authenticity of assurances that the four westerners were still alive.

The assurances from the Al-Faran kidnappers came in three separate radio and telephone conversations which re-established contact for the first time since early September.

Speculation is now mounting that the group might be more willing negotiate the release of the hostages because of the increasingly poor winter weather in the Himalayas.

K B Jandial, spokesman of the government of the state of Jammu Kashmir told reporters: "All of them are safe but one British hostage and the US hostage are sick."

Today it emerged that the two hostages said to be ill were in good spirits and recieving medical attention.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in close contact with the Indian Government. The Indian authorities there are satisified that the information is right.

Paul's dad Bob, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, said he was pleased that the almost two month break down in communications had come to an end.

He said: "This would appear to be a positive development."

It is not clear which of the two Britons, Paul, 24, or Middlesbrough man Keith Mangan, are ill.

American Don Hutchings and German Dirk Hasert are the two other hostages kidnapped while on trekking holidays in the Himalayan region.

A fifth hostage, Norwegian Hans Christian Ostroe, was found beheaded on August 13.

The militants have repeatedly asked for the release of imprisoned guerillas in return for the four captives.

The Indian Government have refused their demands.

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