Geelani turns down Pak invite for Eid Milan

In a surprise snub to Pakistan, hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today decided to "boycott" the Eid Milan being hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in Delhi on July 21, making it the first time that he has turned down such an invite.
Geelani decided to boycott the event as a protest against non-inclusion of Kashmir in the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa in Russia last week.
"Hurriyat has decided against taking part in the Eid Milan party of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The non-inclusion of Kashmir in the recent meeting between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif is unfortunate and as such Hurriyat will boycott the party as a token of protest," a Hurriyat spokesman said in a statement here.

He said neither the conglomerate chairman (Geelani) nor any representative of the Hurriyat attend the function.
Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi had telephoned Geelani to extend him an invite and informed him that a formal invitation had been dispatched, he said.
"However, Geelani told him that a decision to attend the meet will be taken after consultations. The Hurriyat met today and decided to boycott the event," the spokesman said.
This is the first time that Geelani, a hardline pro-Pakistan leader, has turned down an invite by the Pakistan High Commission.
"Kashmir is an issue of 13 million people and they cannot be taken for granted or sidelined at any point of time," the spokesman said.