NEW DELHI, India: In a move which can cause a blow to the upcoming Pakistan-India security advisors level talks, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has reportedly invited Kashmiri separatist leaders for a meeting with the security advisor Sartaj Aziz.
It comes a few days before Sartaj Aziz is scheduled to hold security talks with his Indian Counterpart Ajit Doval in New Delhi.
The Indian media reports said that Pakistan High Commission on Wednesday invited Kashmir’s Hurriyat Conference key leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Nayeem Khan and Yasin Malik to meet Sartaj Aziz when the later will land in New Delhi on August 23.
The Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar confirmed the reports according to the Indian media that Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been invited by the High Commission.
“Pakistan wants to take the separatists on board before resumption of talks with India,” the spokesman further said.
However, the Hurriyat leaders have not yet accepted the invitation extended by the Pakistan High Commission.
The security advisors level talks between Pakistan and India are scheduled in New Delhi on August 23 and 24, aiming at to resume the dialogue process halted last year.
In August last year, the Indian government cancelled scheduled foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan after the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi held consultations with Kashmiri separatists prior to the talks.
It is not clear that how the Indian government will react to the latest development such as the Pakistan High Commissioner’s invitation to the Kashmiri leaders but keeping in view the Indian last year’s response when same kind of situation occurred, one can raise fear of disturbing the upcoming security talks.
