NSA talks: Pakistan invites Hurriyat leaders for reception party of Sartaj Aziz

The invite assumes significance as India, last year, cancelled talks with Pakistan terming Pak High Commission's invite to separatist leaders as "unacceptable inteference".

Sartaj Aziz.

A year after India cancelled the Indo-Pak foriegn secretary level talks over Pakistan embassy’s invite to Hurriyat leaders ahead of talks, the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi has invited Hurriyat leaders for a “reception party” on August 23, the day the NSA-level talks between the two countries are scheduled in New Delhi.

Sources say that Hurriyat leaders received a call from Pakistan High Commission on Tuesday evening inviting them to the High Commission for August 23.

They have been invited for “reception party” of Sartaj Aziz. The meet between Hurriyat leaders and Aziz is scheduled for the evening of August 23. The invited leaders include Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

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“Geelani sahib has been invited by the High Commission,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said. “Pakistan wants to take the separatists on board before resumption of talks with India”.

The invite assumes significance as India, last year, cancelled talks with Pakistan terming Pak High Commission’s invite to separatist leaders as “unacceptable inteference”.

It is not clear yet whether the separatist would accept the invite by the High Commission or not.

Recently, the Pak High Commission had invited the separatists for a Eid Milan. While Hurriyat chairman Geelani and JKLF supremo rejected the invite citing ignoring of Kashmir issue in the joint statement of PM Modi and Nawaz Sharief at Ufa Russia, Mirwaiz attened the Eid Milan.

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