Kashmiri separatist leaders have been invited for Eid Milan by Pakistan High Commission which today said it was "nothing unusual" and that full moral, political and diplomatic support will continue to be extended to people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for "self-determination".
Last year, India cancelled talks between the Foreign Secretaries of both countries after Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit hosted the Hurriyat leaders before the dialogue.
When asked about the invite to the separatist leaders, Basit today said, "Nothing unusual about our invite to Hurriyat leaders. The hype being created by some is unfortunate, to put it mildly."
"Pakistan will continue extending its full moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for self-determination as provided for in UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," he added.
The invitation was extended against the backdrop of India and Pakistan agreeing to re-engage at the talks between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in the Russian city of Ufa last Friday.
Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission had scheduled the dinner for July 4 but later it was postponed to July 21.
Pakistani officials maintained that it was rescheduled due to some deaths in Karachi but it was seen here by many as an attempt to avoid any bitterness ahead of the talks between Modi and Sharif.
In August last year, India had called off talks between Foreign Secretaries of the two countries, strongly objecting to consultations Basit had with the Kashmiri separatist leaders.
Barely three days after the Modi-Sharif talks, Pakistan, in a turnaround, today asked for "more evidence and information" from India on the Mumbai attack case and asserted that talks cannot take place without Kashmir being on the agenda.
Going back to its oft-repeated stand, Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz made it clear "no dialogue will take place with India unless Kashmir issue is included in the agenda.
