JKLF chairman Yasin Malik tonight kept away from a marathon meeting between visiting Kashmiri separatist leaders and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here, two days after he criticised Kashmiri leaders in this country for “romanticising” militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.The two-hour meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence was attended by Hurriyat conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and other separatist leaders. Aziz later hosted a dinner for the separatist leaders which Malik attended.Neither Malik nor the Pakistan side was willing to give any reason for the JKLF leader’s absence at the talks.On Friday, Malik had blamed the leaders of Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for “romanticising” militancy.As for the talks between Aziz and separatist leaders, they followed the familiar line — Kashmiris should be involved in talks between India and Pakistan. Talking to mediapersons, Farooq said Aziz has assured that Pakistan would ensure the participation of Hurriyat leaders as “genuine” representatives in the talks.“The government of Pakistan is committed to see to it that people of Jammu and Kashmir, their genuine representatives in name of APHC leadership are made a part of the ongoing process as far as dialogue is concerned,” he said.“We feel that time has come when India and Pakistan have to move forward on the dispute of Kashmir and the people of Kashmir have to be part of it to make this process complete and successful,’’ he said. Aziz, who answered only two questions, said the Kashmir issue had three stake-holders. “They are people of Kashmir, India and Pakistan. Unless the three stake-holders do not agree to hold talks, speedy progress cannot be achieved.’’The separatist leaders are to meet President Pervez Musharraf after his return from a tour of the Gulf this week.
