India responds to Pak allegations: 'New Delhi can speak for itself'

India on Monday vociferously responded to allegations of not having objections to the Hurriyat being invited for Pakistan Day celebrations, declaring that there is no place for a third party in talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

"Having repeated it on so many occasions, there should be no scope for misunderstanding or misrepresenting India's position on the role of the so called Hurriyat. Let me reiterate there are only two parties and there is no place for a third party in resolution of India-Pakistan issues," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

"The only way forward to proceed on all outstanding issues is a peaceful bilateral dialogue within the framework of Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration," he added.

Earlier in the day, Islamabad's envoy in India Abdul Basit had claimed that New Delhi has no objections to Hurriyat leaders being invited for Pakistan Day celebrations. Seven Jammu and Kashmir separatist leaders will be attending the function, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

Recently released hardliner Masarat Alam, however, is learnt to have declined his invitation.