Kashmiri separatists to go on with plan to meet Pakistan envoy

SRINAGAR: Though their scheduled meetings have led to the cancellation of the secretary level talks, Kashmiri separatists have not cancelled their date with Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Delhi. While Shabir Shah has already met him, groups led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have decided against cancelling their meetings.

Pakistan has been inviting Kashmiri separatists to Delhi every time it had a major national function or a dignitary was visiting India. Though it avoided an invitation last time when Nawaz Sharief flew to attend the oath ceremony of Narendra Modi, they extended an invitation to them in anticipation of secretary level talks in Islamabad. “We have an invitation and it is nothing new,” a spokesman of Geelani said. “We are going ahead with the meeting regardless of what happens at bilateral level between India and Pakistan.” Sources said Mirwaiz and Malik will also follow the suit. All the three are scheduled to have meetings on Tuesday.

“Pakistan is part of the dispute and we have been interacting with Pakistan establishment for more than 22 years and it is nothing new that could have triggered such a reaction from India’s foreign ministry,” said Nayeem Khan, a close confidant of Shah. “Delhi must rethink what it wants, rhetoric or realism,” Khan said.