Days after Modi-Sharif handshake, Pak High Commission invites Kashmiri separatists for Eid Milan

New Delhi: The Pakistan High Commission has invited Kashmiri separatist leaders to its mission here on July 21 to celebrate Eid Milan at the end of holy month of Ramzan.

Pakistan High Commission sources said it has been a usual practice to invite the Kashmiri separatist leaders on such occasions.

Read: After Modi-Sharif talks, Pakistan wants 'more evidence' on 26/11 case

Earlier, the High Commission had scheduled the dinner for July 4 but later it was postponed to July 21.

Read: BJP downplays Pak's remarks on Kashmir, says such statements intended for domestic audience

While Pakistani officials maintain that it was postponed due to some deaths in Karachi but the move was seen here by many as an attempt to avoid any bitterness ahead of talks between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif in Russian city of Ufa.

Read: U-turn? Day after Nawaz Sharif’s promise, Pakistan stalls 26/11 attack probe

In August last year, India had called off talks between Foreign Secretaries of the two countries, strongly objecting to consultations Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit had with the Kashmiri separatist leaders.

Read: Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy: Pakistan

Modi and Sharif held a bilateral meeting three days back on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Russian city of Ufa in which they decided to revive the stalled dialogue process and quicken the Mumbai attack case trial.

Read: Modi-Sharif meet gets mix response from Pakistan's parties, media

However, in a turnaround, Pakistan today asked for "more evidence and information" from India on the Mumbai attack case and asserted that talks cannot take place without Kashmir being on the agenda.

Read: Mumbai attacks probe: Pakistan to not file petition requesting Lakhvi’s voice sample