India objects to Sartaj Aziz meeting with Kashmiri leaders

Raising objections over a scheduled meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz with Kashmiri leaders during his visit to India, New Delhi has termed the move violation of the Ufa agreement, Indian media reported on Thursday.

According to reports, India’s External Affairs Ministry has informed Pakistan about its reservations over the meeting, keeping all the options on table.

The Indian government is said to have conveyed to Mr Sartaj Aziz that the NSA-level talks could be cancelled if he meets Kashmiri leaders during his visit.


"India has advised Pakistan yesterday that it would not be appropriate for Mr Sartaz Aziz to meet with Hurriyat (separatist) representatives in India," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter.

"Such a meeting would not be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Ufa understanding to jointly work to combat terrorism," he said.

On Thursday, Indian authorities briefly detained and then released senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yaseen Malik.

According to reports from Indian media, authorities in Occupied Kashmir launched a crackdown in Srinagar after the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi invited Hurriyat leaders to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz during his upcoming visit to New Delhi.

Sartaj Aziz will be in the Indian capital for talks with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, on August 23 and 24th August as part of efforts to resume the dialogue process between the two countries.