Seven leaders of the moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq are scheduled to visit Pakistan High Commission in the capital to attend the Pakistan National Day celebrations on Monday.
Ahead of the function, Mr. Farooq had on Sunday met the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to understand Islamabad’s stand on the recent Foreign-Secretary level talks and also brief him on the “ground situation” in the state.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday downplayed the development saying that Pakistan is free to invite everyone for its National Day celebrations.
Responding to questions on the issue on Friday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin refused to comment on it as it was sometime away and said “I think in decision making “surprise” is always an element that needs to be taken into consideration. I am not going to let up the surprise right now. Wait and see.”
The government had in August last year cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks after Mr. Basit met Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of the talks despite calls by the India to not go ahead with it.
Besides Mr. Farooq, others in the delegation include Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Syed Hassan, Mussadiq Adil and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza.
