Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said it was National Democratic Party (NDA) that “facilitated meetings between the Hurriyat leaders and Pakistani dignitaries,” while taking exception to India's stand on Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's phone call to Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq .
“Ironically, it was NDA under then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji that facilitated meetings between Hurriyat leaders and Pakistani dignitaries, besides allowing them to visit Pakistan to hold talks with the establishment including the then President General Musharraf,” said Ms. Mufti.
She said a foreign policy dictated by the compulsions of electoral politics is "shockingly pathetic".
"Terming a phone call between Pakistani FM and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq sahab as anti-India has reduced ties to an unbelievable nadir," she added.
Mr. Qureshi called up the Mirwaiz on Tuesday, days ahead of him leading a group of parliamentarians to the United Kingdom to hold a seminar on the Kashmir issue.
India has taken exception to "Pakistan's attempt to meddle in India's internal affairs".
