New Delhi: Despite a diplomatic tussle between Islamabad and New Delhi over the Pakistan High Commission's invite to them, a section of Hurriyat Conference leaders are still keen to meet National Security Advisor Sartaz Aziz when he arrives here for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on August 23.
Media reports on Friday said that various factions of the Hurriyat Conference have decided to send their emissaries to meet the Pakistan NSA to discuss the Kashmir issue.
Also Read: No composite dialogue with Pakistan, NSA meet to focus on 'terror'
In case of no detention by the Indian authorities, a three-member delegation of Hurriyat Conference (G) led by its chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his close aid Ayaz Akber would leave Srinagar on August 24 to hold a meeting with Sartaj Aziz in the morning itself.
Similarly, a seven-member delegation of Hurriyat (M) lead by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, including professor Abdul Gani Bat, Bilal Gani Lone and Moulvi Masoor Ansari, will also leave for Delhi on August 23.
Also, a two-member team of JKLF comprising party vice chairman Shoukat Bakshi and secretary general Ghulam Muhammad Dar will leave for Delhi on August 23.
Also Read: India's advise to Pakistan: `Won't be appropriate for Sartaj Aziz to meet Hurriyat
Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah will reportedly leave for Delhi on August 22.
Jammu Kashmir National Front chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan will also reportedly travel to Delhi on August 23.
Various representatives of the Hurriyat Conference will hold talks with Pakistan's NSA Sartaj Aziz and provide their inputs on resolving the long vexed Kashmir dispute.
The Hurriyat leaders have said that they are aware of the current developments and will take further steps accordingly.
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Taking a tough stance, India today said that it had advised Pakistan that it would "not be appropriate" for its NSA, Sartaj Aziz, to meet Hurriyat representatives here ahead of a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.
"India advised Pakistan yesterday (Thursday) that it would not be appropriate for Sartaz Aziz to meet with Hurriyat representatives in India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
"Such a meeting would not be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Ufa understanding to jointly work to combat terrorism," he said.
"We have also sought confirmation of our proposed agenda for the National Security Advisor(NSA)-level talks, which was conveyed to the Pakistani side on August 18, he said in a statement.
The government's reaction comes in the wake of Pakistan's invite to Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of the NSA talks on August 23-24.
