Separatist Masarat Alam invited to Pakistan Day celebrations in Delhi

Separatist leader Masarat Alam, who was invited for Pakistan National Day celebrations at the High Commission in Delhi on Monday, will not be attending the event.

"I am not well so I will not attend...these invites come to us every year," Alam said in Kashmir.  

However, seven other separatist leaders including Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will attend Pakistan's National Day celebrations.

"I don't think the Indian government objects to us meeting Hurriyat leaders. We are looking forward to more meetings between the two countries. We hope both countries will move forward, time has come to resolve our problems," Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit said.  "The objective is to achieve peace between India and Pakistan. Indian foreign secretary ( S Jaishankar) was in Pakistan this month. We are looking forward to resumption of an engagement process," he added.

Alam was released from Baramulla prison following the new Jammu and Kashmir government's policy to free political prisoners who do not face criminal charges. His release had created a massive uproar across the country and even both the Houses of Parliament had witnessed noisy scenes.

He is the chairman of Muslim League, a constituent of hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and is widely seen as the latter's successor. He had been convicted for organising anti-India protests resulting in the death of 112 people in stone pelting across the Valley in 2010.

Image: Separatist leader Masarat Alam