Top

Separatist leader Geelani meets Pak envoy after India-Pakistan talks called off

Geelani termed the talks being called off by India as ‘childish’

New Delhi: Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Meeting was held amid protests outside the Pakistan high commission. Some protesters were also detained. Clashes were also reported between the police and protesters outside the high commission. The protesters want the Pakistan high commissioner to be sent back.

Geelani, along with other leaders, was invited by the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, which led to India cancelling the upcoming Foreign Secretary level talks in Islamabad.

Geelani termed the talks being called off by India as "childish". He said, "The decision of the Government of India is childish, doesn't hold importance, they shouldn't have done this. We have been visiting Pakistan Embassy several times to hold talks, the decision to cancel foreign secretary-level talks is undemocratic."

Sending a tough message to Pakistan, India on Monday called off the August 25 foreign secretary-level talks in Islamabad, in what is being viewed as a direct fallout of Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit’s invitation to the separatist Hurriyat leaders for a dialogue.

Top government sources said foreign secretary Sujatha Singh called up the high commissioner just after his meeting with Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah, saying “in clear and unambiguous terms that Pakistan’s continued efforts to interfere in India’s internal affairs were unacceptable.”

Prior to the Pakistani diplomat’s meeting with the separatist leader, the Indian foreign secretary had told him they could either have a dialogue with the Indian government or with the separatists, but Mr Basit went ahead with the meeting. Sources said this left the government with no option but to cancel the talks that were due to resume after a gap of two years.

( Source : dc/pti )
Next Story