Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Shah looks forward to foreign secretary-level talks

Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah said Monday that he sees the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks positively, and hopes that the Kashmir issue gets resolved.

Shah told ANI, "The Pakistan High Commissioner has invited us for lunch. We accepted it, because Pakistan has been supporting us at the political and diplomatic level. Whenever we are in talks with any Pakistani official or visit each other's nation, such invitations are given".

"We see the upcoming meeting and foreign secretary discussion of 25th August in a positive manner. We also have to talk about water, roads, security and nuclear issues. But the core issue of Kashmir remains at the focus for both nations", he added.

"Our present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has got a majority of (votes) from Jammu and Kashmir, and if he is able to tackle the issues, then it will be great. He plans to make India a global power, talks of development and has allotted millions of dollars into defence sector. If he decides on the Kashmir issue as well, then the matter will be solved forever," said Shah.

The foreign secretaries of the two countries are meeting in Islamabad on August 25.