APHC leaders take crib to Pak High Commissioner

Bhat said their meeting with the Pakistan High Commissioner focussed on “elections (to the APHC) and problems being faced by our people in getting passports and visas here”.

Sources close to Hurriyat leaders however reveal that the duo wanted to hear the Pakistan Government’s version on its role in the “peace initiative on Kashmir” following Hizb’s ceasefire offer last month.

The Hurriyat leadership has been cut up with Pakistan ever since then Hizb chalked out its own trail. Sources said although Geelani was taken into confidence by Hizbul leaders, the Pakistan leadership did not extend the courtesy to the rest of the leadership.

Hurriyat leaders, sources said, believe that the Indian and Pakistani Governments were working in tandem in the intial stages of last month’s developments on Kashmir. Hurriyat leaders felt while they did not expect India to take them into confidence, at least Pakistan should have `briefed them in advance”.

To mark their protest, sources said, the Hurriyat leaders had twice rejected invitations from the Pakistan High Commission. Recently, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi had gone to Islamabad to get a brief from the government for meeting Hurriyat leaders, added sources.

After Kargil, this is the second time Hurriyat leaders have accused Pakistan of showing `mistrust’ in the Kashmiri secessionist leadership. At that time, the APHC had even published a booklet criticising the role of Pakistan in Kargil.

Sources however said Geelani and Bhat had no plans to meet any Indian official regarding their recent offer to act as mediator between India and Pakistan. Geelani is a hardliner, and his presence will deter Bhat from pursuing track two diplomacy, sources said.