The trigger that snapped India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks last year has come back to haunt Indo-Pak relations once again after Pakistani High Commissioner in India, Abdul Basit, met Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday. The meeting took place at a time when tempers are already frayed over the release of separatist hardliner Masarat Alam by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Sources in Pakistani High Commission said Hurriyat leader Geelani met Basit in the embassy premises at Shantipath. The meeting, according to Pakistani officials, was to “inform” separatists about developments relating to Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Pakistan during his SAARC yatra. Besides, the political situation in the State was also discussed during their half-an-hour meeting.
Pakistan maintains that separatist leaders are important stakeholders in the talks between India and Pakistan and things cannot move without keeping them on board. “First the visit by Indian FS was discussed. We believe they have to be kept informed about the dialogue process between the two countries. They are important stakeholders. Besides, the big topic of political scenario in J&K was also discussed,” said an official.
The separatist leader updated Basit about his reading of political situation in the State where PDP and BJP are in coalition Government. Both sides are believed to be poles apart in terms of political ideology and PDP, with its recent pro-separatists activities and statements, has created political disturbances for BJP in the Centre. “Pakistani High Commissioner told me that the talks between foreign secretaries took place under the umbrella of SAARC. However, we are keen for talks on Kashmir. We want to see good relations. Now that talks between two sides have begun we want a solution on Kashmir issue, since this is the basic cause of all issues between the two countries,” Geelani said.
last year, India had called off foreign secretary level talks between after Basit held ‘consultations’ with separatists in an effort to take them ‘on board’. While separatists and Pakistan said this has been the practice, India under the Modi leadership refused to follow the past precedence. “There is no place for a third party when two Governments talk,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin had said.