'Impossible for Pakistan to accept' India's advice on not meeting Hurriyat

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it would be impossible for the country to accept the advice of the Government on India that Sartaj Aziz, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security, may not meet the Hurriyat leaders.

"Pakistani leadership has always interacted the Kashmir/Hurriyat leadership, during their visits to India," said Pakistan Foreign Office in the latest press release.

"Pakistan sees no reason to depart from this established past practice," it said.

"The Hurriyat leaders are true representatives of the Kashmiri people of the Indian- occupied Kashmir," said the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office further said, "Pakistan has proposed and conveyed to India a comprehensive agenda reflecting the broad understanding reached between the leaders in Ufa, that all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and other disputes, as well as, terrorism issues and other CBMs will be discussed between the two countries."

"India's insistence to introduce conditionalities and restrict the agenda for the dialogue, demonstrates a lack of seriousness on India's part to meaningfully engage with Pakistan," the Ministry's statement said.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said that the country remains willing to attend the NSAs meeting without any pre-conditions.

India today made it clear to Pakistan that it should not go ahead with the meeting of its NSA Sartaz Aziz with Hurriyat representatives in New Delhi when he comes to hold NSA-level talks.

In a clear message to the Pakistan High Commission, which has invited hardline Kashmir separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others, India said such a meeting would not be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the understanding reached at UFA, Russia to jointly work to combat terrorism.

Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said it will not be appropriate.