New Delhi: India called off the Foreign Secretary level talks scheduled between the two countries that was scheduled for August 25 in Islamabad, on Monday after Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s decision to meet separatist leaders from Kashmir at Delhi.
The moderate Hurriyat faction had on Sunday said that Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had been invited by the Pakistan High Commission for consultations in Delhi on August 19, following which India called off the Foreign Secretary level talks, PTI reported.
It was reported the Indian Foreign Secretary informed Pakistan High Commissioner that her talks with Pakistan counterpart on August 25 in Islamabad now stands cancelled.
Talking to scribes over the matter, Syed Akbaruddin, Official Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, said, “At a time when serious initiative was taken to take bilateral ties forward, invite to Hurriyat leaders raises questions about Pak’s sincerity.â€
“Pak High Commissioner’s meeting with so called Hurriyat leaders undermined the constructive diplomatic arrangements made by PM Modi,†the MEA spokesperson added.