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http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pakistan-snubs-separatists-denies-invite-2206496
Shock, disbelief and anger sums-up the mood in the separatist camp after Pakistan openly snubbed their leaders by not inviting them for a meeting with its visiting foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in New Delhi.
"You should ask them (why they have not invited us)," retorted Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of hard-line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. "It is probably for the first time in 20 years that there is no invite for the Hurriyat to meet any Pakistani dignitary. Last time, I believe talks were cancelled on this issue only."
Ayaz however put up a brave face saying it does not matter whether they are invited for talks or not. "We are in principle not against talks. We never said that there should not be good relations between India and Pakistan. But we have always said Kashmir is the core dispute between the two countries and it should be solved according to the aspirations of its people," he said.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq played down the issue saying Pakistan foreign secretary had arrived in Delhi for Heart to Asia Conference and not specifically for bilateral.
"This is not a composite dialogue. It is a separate conference. When there was any bilateral Indo-Pak dialogue we were invited. We welcome the foreign secretaries meeting and hope composite dialogue between the two countries will resume. Ultimately they have to involve Kashmiris in the process as well," Mirwaiz told dna.
Last year Pakistan called off the National Security Advisor (NSA) level talks after New Delhi objected to the proposed meeting of Sartaz Aziz with the separatists. Senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah and moderate Hurriyat Conference executive council member Bilal Gani Lone were detained and placed under house arrest soon after they landed at the Delhi airport on August 22 2015.
"I was detained last time. But this time the situation is different. This time it was not a bilateral meeting between India and Pakistan. We welcome the meeting of two foreign secretaries on the sidelines. We will see when formal talks will be held," Shah told dna
Shock, disbelief and anger sums-up the mood in the separatist camp after Pakistan openly snubbed their leaders by not inviting them for a meeting with its visiting foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in New Delhi.
"You should ask them (why they have not invited us)," retorted Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of hard-line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. "It is probably for the first time in 20 years that there is no invite for the Hurriyat to meet any Pakistani dignitary. Last time, I believe talks were cancelled on this issue only."
Ayaz however put up a brave face saying it does not matter whether they are invited for talks or not. "We are in principle not against talks. We never said that there should not be good relations between India and Pakistan. But we have always said Kashmir is the core dispute between the two countries and it should be solved according to the aspirations of its people," he said.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq played down the issue saying Pakistan foreign secretary had arrived in Delhi for Heart to Asia Conference and not specifically for bilateral.
"This is not a composite dialogue. It is a separate conference. When there was any bilateral Indo-Pak dialogue we were invited. We welcome the foreign secretaries meeting and hope composite dialogue between the two countries will resume. Ultimately they have to involve Kashmiris in the process as well," Mirwaiz told dna.
Last year Pakistan called off the National Security Advisor (NSA) level talks after New Delhi objected to the proposed meeting of Sartaz Aziz with the separatists. Senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah and moderate Hurriyat Conference executive council member Bilal Gani Lone were detained and placed under house arrest soon after they landed at the Delhi airport on August 22 2015.
"I was detained last time. But this time the situation is different. This time it was not a bilateral meeting between India and Pakistan. We welcome the meeting of two foreign secretaries on the sidelines. We will see when formal talks will be held," Shah told dna
