New Delhi/Srinagar: The Narendra Modi government, which had called off the foreign secretary-level talks in August last year after a similar Pakistani invitation to Hurriyat leaders, is now in a bind, but a source said: “We believe terror and talks can’t go on together, but we are not shy of talks on terror.”
The Indian government is convinced the Pakistan military establishment is doing its utmost to provoke India, hoping New Delhi will call off the talks so that Islamabad can tell the global community that it is India that does not want talks. New Delhi also sees the Pakistani invite to Hurriyat leaders as the “latest provocation”.
“Let’s see what happens (if they go ahead and meet the separatists). The government will respond appropriately,” a government source said, adding: “The invitation should be seen as the latest provocative move in that direction.” The Pakistan High Commission on Wednesday justified its invitation to Kashmiri separatists saying such meetings were not “unprecedented”.
Its press counsellor Manzoor Ali Memon said, “We have been meeting and talking to them (Kashmiri leaders). There is nothing unprecedented about it. I don’t understand why there is so much hype.” In Srinagar, the Mirwaiz said the invitation was discussed at a meeting of the executive council of his faction of Hurriyat Conference held at his residence Wednesday, and it was decided to accept it. Accordingly, a “high-level” team led by him would travel to New Delhi to attend it.
Welcoming the proposed meeting of the NSAs, he asserted, “In order to ensure lasting peace in South Asia and the prosperity of India and Pakistan, a meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving the Kashmir dispute is inevitable.” Ayaz Akbar, spokesperson of the Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference faction, said a meeting of the conglomerate’s ‘Majlis-e-Shoora’, or advisory council, held in Srinagar on Wednesday, welcomed Pakistan’s “just and principled stand” on the issue of Kashmir and inviting the Kashmiri “resistance leadership” to meet Mr Aziz.
“It was decided that Geelani Sahib will meet Mr Aziz to express gratitude to Pakistan,” Mr Akbar said.
