Veteran Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has refused to attend an Eid Milan party at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi in protest against Pakistan for ‘ignoring the Kashmir cause’. “As a symbolic protest, I have decided not to attend the Eid Milan function at Pakistan’s High Commission in Delhi to which I have been invited,” said the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman in a statement issued in Srinagar on Tuesday, according to the IANS news agency.Geelani said the joint statement issued by Indian and Pakistani prime ministers after their recent meet-up in the Russian city of Ufa had failed to mention the Kashmir issue. “The failure of the joint statement to make a special mention of the Kashmir problem indicates callousness towards a human problem that concerns the lives and future of 13 million people living in Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated.The frustration is understandable. We have always stood by the Hurriyat, yet, when was the last time we were able to talk about them to the Indian government? We know that involving the Kashmiri leaders in the peace process and dialogue with India is important. We also know that the Hurriyat leaders are made to feel that the Kashmiri people have no say in their fate. Issues of Indian involvement in internal affairs, Balochistan, river management and Siachin are all as important as the Kashmir issue. Pakistani foreign policy has left no doubt about this.Pakistan’s efforts for Kashmir either annoy the Indian government, or end up upsetting Kashmiri leaders. Looking back, just last year, the Pakistan High Commissioner’s invitation to the Hurriyat leaders for consultations was followed by India getting offended and cancelling foreign secretary level talks. Pakistan has always maintained that their relationship with the Kashmir Hurriyat leaders has been a traditional one, where dialogue is encouraged. In this scenario, does the Hurriyat expect Pakistan to pause talks with India until the Kashmir issue is acknowledged? Though many in Pakistan would say yes, Foreign Affairs Minister Sartaj Aziz’ statements suggest otherwise. He has repeatedly said that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is definitely going to be addressed in the formal dialogue.
pk.shafaqna.com
Disillusioned and disappointed: Hurriyet leader frustrated by Pakistan’s stance
