Kashmiri leaders not a 'third party': Nawaz Sharif

He added that any dialogue process with India which does not include Kashmir issue will be futile

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Asserting that Kashmiri separatist leaders are not a "third party", Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that any dialogue process with India which does not include Kashmir issue will be futile.

"Kashmiri leaders are not the third party but an important party to this issue. Any decision on their future cannot be made without their opinion and consultation," Sharif said during a cabinet meeting yesterday.

The prime minister told the cabinet that any dialogue with India without Kashmir issue would be futile, the Dawn reported.

Sharif's comments came just days after Pakistan called off the National Security Advisers-level talks at last minute after India asked it to give a commitment that it would not meet Kashmiri separatist leaders.

Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz briefed Sharif and cabinet colleagues over the cancellation of talks.

The cabinet also discussed the security situation in the country.

Aziz was scheduled to travel to India on August 23 for the first-ever NSA-level talks with his counterpart Ajit Doval but he called off the visit just hours before the proposed dialogue.