NEW DELHI: The sudden arrest and immediate release of Kashmiri separatist leaders who are to meet Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz here introduced an intriguing element into the scheduled talks he will have with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on terror on next week.
The invitation by the Pakistan High Commission to hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist leaders including Umar Farooq on Sunday to meet Aziz has upset New Delhi but Pakistan has stuck to the line that such meetings were “routine”.
Pakistan Foreign office said in Islamabad that consultations with Hurriyat leaders) were a “routine matter” and a “long standing practice”.
The sudden house arrest of Hurriyat leaders introduced a new element into the talks scenario and prompted speculation about Pakistan reaction. However, a couple of hours later, the restrictions were lifted.
Official sources said the detention of the separatists was a message to Pakistan that there was no third party to discussions between the two countries on the issue of terror. It was also a signal that they could be detained again if need be to prevent them from meeting Aziz.
The Indo-Pak NSA-level talks were on course as of now but there may be a new twist should separatist leaders be prevented from coming to Delhi to meet Aziz. “The ball will then be in Pakistan’s court,” the sources emphasized. (AGENCIES)
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