Defence expert Major General (Retd.) P.K. Sehgal on Sunday said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's invitation to separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani just before his visit to the United States is clearly designed to influence the world audience.
"Nawaz Sharif knows that the NSA-level talks were called off by Pakistan because India said separatists have no place. They do not represent the people of India they do not represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir.. They have never dared to fight an election. So, they represent nobody, they are the creation of Pakistan totally aided, abetted and financed by Pakistan," Major General (Retd.) Sehgal told ANI.
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"This invitation to Hurriyat leader just before his visit to America is clearly designed to influence the world audience. He will say from the roof top there that the NSA-level talks got called off because of Indian attitude," he added.
Sharif has invited the Hurriyat chairman to visit the neighbouring country, through a letter handed over to him by Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit.
The invite assumes significance in the backdrop of toughening of stands by India and Pakistan on Kashmir. The invite also gives an indication that Pakistan is throwing its weight behind the separatist leader.