Oscillating between optimism and apprehensions, the separatist leaders in Kashmir are preparing to fly over to New Delhi to attend a function at Pakistan High Commission to commemorate the Pakistan Day on March 23.
The separatists’ meeting with Pakistan envoy evokes resentment from several nationalistic groups but the decision of the Narendra Modi Government to call off scheduled Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan in August 2014 added a new factor to the phenomenon.
The separatist leaders are visiting the High Commission at a time when Foreign Secretary level-talks have resumed and the PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu & Kashmir has promised to pursue Vajpayee-led NDA-1 Government’s policy to engage with internal stakeholders of Kashmir issue, including the Hurriyat Conference.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of pro-dialogue faction of Hurriyat Conference will lead a group of separatist leaders to meet the Pakistan envoy. Mirwaiz has promised to contribute towards a “fruitful dialogue process” aimed at finding out a permanent solution to Kashmir issue.
Sources said that hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who is in New Delhi for several months, will return to Valley after attending the Pakistan Day function. last week, Basit called upon Geelani at his Malviya Nagar residence and held discussion for several hours.
“Geelani briefed the Pakistan High Commissioner on the ground situation in Kashmir”, Geelani’s spokesman had said after the meeting.
Muslim league chairman Masrat Alam, whose recent release after four-and- a-half year’s detention caused furor would not travel to Delhi next week. “I have decided not to go. I am just settling down after my release”, Alam told The Pioneer. Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Parliament that Alam’s activities would be monitored and he would remain under tight vigil.
Shabir Shah, who floated his own faction of Hurriyat Conference last year, said that he was not afraid of the consequences of separatist leaders’ meeting with Pakistan envoy.
“last time, my meeting with Abdul Basit in New Delhi created disturbance and Modi government called off talks with foreign secretary”, he said.
“We are used to such situations. let’s see what happens. I am not afraid. I am 61 now and have commitment towards freedom of Kashmir”, he said.
The JKlF leader Javed Mir, who is affiliated with Mirwaiz’s Hurriyat said that Government of India should not be apprehensive on separatist leaders’ talks with Pakistan. “We have been meeting Pakistan envoy for decades. Pakistan is party to the dispute of Kashmir and any resolution of Kashmir issue can come out through talks between India, Pakistan and representatives of Kashmiris”, he said.
He accused New Delhi of adopting double-standards on their way of engaging with separatists. “When they (New Delhi) wants us to engage with them, we are being eagerly welcomed in New Delhi but when we engage with Pakistan, hue and cry is raised”, he said.
He said talks between India and Pakistan or New Delhi and Kashmiri separatists must begin with some visible change on the ground level. “let the government begin with releasing political prisoners”, he suggested.