On Pakistan Day, MoS Singh dines with separatists

Minister of State for External Affairs Minister V K Singh on Monday represented the government at the Pakistan National Day reception at the high commission amidst the controversy sparked by Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit’s comments that India was not against his interactions with Kashmiri separatist leaders.

Singh, former army chief, attended the celebrations, where several Kashmiri separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yaseen Malik were also present. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar also present.

The minister stayed for 15 minutes at the reception which was held on a day India and Pakistan sparred over Hurriyat leaders’ confabulations with Basit, with New Delhi making it clear that there was no role for a third party.

Basit, who has held meetings with Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and other separatist leaders and also invited them to the Pakistan National Day celebrations, said that India was not against these interactions.

“I don’t think Indian government is objecting. I would rather suggest to my media friends not to make an issue out of a non-issue,” Basit said.

However, India hit out, saying “the Government of India prefers to speak for itself”.

“Having repeated it on so many occasions there should be no scope for misunderstanding or misrepresenting India’s position on the role of the so called Hurriyat.

“Let me reiterate there are only two parties and there is no place for a third party in resolution of India-Pakistan issues,” spokesperson in the external affairs ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.

India had called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan last year after Basit held consultations with Hurriyat leaders on the eve of the official talks.

In a brief address at the celebration, Basit said India and Pakistan should work together to resolve their “problems and issues”.

“Our two countries need to work together to resolve our problems and issues and to address the challenges which our two countries are facing, which our region is facing. I assure you that government and people of India will not find Pakistan wanting,” the Pakistan high commissioner said.

Former Union minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, who attended the reception, pitched for “uninterrupted” talks with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues.

“I think it is foolish to break the talks on the pretext that the Pakistan high commissioner met the Hurriyat leaders. There should be uninterrupted dialogue,” Aiyar said.

He said talks between Pakistan high commissioner and Hurriyat had started when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was PM and it continued during the United Progressive Alliance rule.

Hurriyat leader Geelani said all the issues between the two countries should be resolved through talks.