Third party intervention in Indo-Pak talks 'imperative': Naeem khan

Holding India responsible for cancellation of the NSA-level talks, separatist leader Naeem Khan on Sunday said that a third party intervention is imperative because the two neighboring nations have not been able to resolve a 68-year-old conflict so far.

Khan said India's hollow approach is highly condemnable and deplorable.

"There is only issue of Kashmir threatening South Asian peace, so what else India discusses with Pakistan," said Khan.

"India and Pakistan fought three wars but only Kashmiris are being killed across the Line of Control, even today there is an encounter going on in Kupwara, Handwara and other parts of Jammu areas like Poonch and Rajouri," he added while asserting that Kashmiris are the real stakeholders.

The separatist leader also criticized the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, saying its stand does not serve any purpose.

Naeem accused government of India for cancellation of talks and said India as a sovereign country cannot dictate terms to sovereign Pakistan and leave certain pre-conditions like not to make Hurriyat or resistant leaders.

"We are the basic stake holders and are being killed on ground."

Khan, however, expressed hope that both sides would continue the dialogue in a good atmosphere in the future.

"We hope India takes steps to restore long pending dispute," he added.

Pakistan called off the NSA-level talks with India late on Saturday night.

A statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office said the proposed talks will not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of what it called "preconditions" laid down by India.