Modi effect! Hurriyat not invited by Pakistan for meeting with visiting FS

New Delhi, Apr 27: Contrary to the tradition, Pakistan for the first time in two decades did not send any invitation to separatist leaders for a meeting with its visiting Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in New Delhi.

Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry was in India for day-long visit on April 26 to attend the Heart of Asia summit in New Delhi.

"It is probably for the first time in 20 years that there is no invite for the Hurriyat to meet any Pakistani dignitary. Last time, I believe talks were cancelled on this issue only," said Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of hard-line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Speaking on the issue moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that Pakistan Foreign Secretary was in New Delhi for the summit not for bilateral talks.

"This is not a composite dialogue. It is a separate conference. When there was any bilateral Indo-Pak dialogue we were invited. We welcome the foreign secretaries meeting and hope composite dialogue between the two countries will resume. Ultimately they have to involve Kashmiris in the process as well," Mirwaiz was quoted as saying by DNA.

The National Security Advisor (NSA)-level talks were called off after India raised objection over Pakistan's decision to meet separatist leaders in 2015.

It was the first formal talks between India and Pakistan since the January 2 Pathankot terror attack.

OneIndia News