Hardline faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference has decided to boycott the proposed after-Eid party — to be hosted by Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi on July 21. The group has cited Pakistan’s failure to insist on inclusion of Kashmir in the joint statement issued by India and Pakistan after Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif held discussions at Ufa in Russia last week.
“No mention of the Kashmir issue in the recent meeting of the Indo-Pak Prime Ministers is very sorrowful and Hurriyat Conference will boycott the Eid Milan party as token protest against this”, Ayaz Akbar, spokesperson of Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference said.
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit has personally called up Geelani to extend invitation for the Eid party before dispatching invitation cards. Geelani reportedly told him that decision to attend the party would be taken after proper consultation.
The High Commission has invited other senior separatist leaders and select journalists from Kashmir to attend the Eid Milan party.
Akbar said that his faction has decided not to attend the party in protest. “Neither Geelani nor any of his representatives will attend the Eid Milan party”, he said.
The separatists have expressed resentment over absence of Kashmir in the joint statement issued in Ufa and blamed Pakistan of acquiescing in front of India over Kashmir.
“Since the fanatic government of BJP came into power in New Delhi, India is continuously trying to thrust a ‘Minus Kashmir’ agenda with Pakistan”, Hurriyat said in a statement adding blaming Pakistan for preferring Narendrav Modi’s smaile over the countless sacrifices of Kashmiri people.
The JKlF chief Yasin Malik also lambasted Pakistan for ignoring Kashmir in the Ufa meeting. Malik decried Pakistan’s foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz’s statement that Kashmir issue would be taken up at Track-II level with India. Malik said that Kashmiris were a living nation and not any group of dumb animals who can be cajoled by myths and tricks.
“To say that Kashmir issue will be taken up during back-door diplomacy is actually insulting this living nation that has a 5000-year-old history and has rendered over five lakh sacrifices for its freedom,” Malik said in response to Aziz’s comments, adding that Kashmiris are a living nation and “our freedom struggle started before India and Pakistan got their freedom and continues till today”.