Srinagar/New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed on Sunday expressed disappointment over cancellation of India-Pakistan NSA talks while his predecessor Farooq Abdullah put the blame on separatists who in turn accused India for the development.
Abdullah's son and another former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing disappointment over the development, said he expected this to be the fate of the proposed talks going by last year's experience when India cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks over Hurriyat issue.
Sayeed expressed disappointment and hoped that "the break in talks would be temporary". He had a veiled advice for Pakistan and separatists too, saying "It is neither warranted nor desirable to insist upon all-inclusive participation, directly or indirectly, in each and every bilateral meeting, like that between the two NSAs."
Hoping that India and Pakistan will "re-engage soon in a meaningful dialogue" and steps taken by New Delhi to remove impediments in normalization of relations will be reciprocated by Islamabad, Sayeed said he wants to see both the countries "walk the bridge of trust together".
Farooq Abdullah termed the cancellation of talks as unfortunate and blamed separatist leaders for the breakdown.
"These self-claimed champions of Kashmiris should have shown some courage and backed off themselves. What was the hurry? The Hurriyat and other separatists receive funds from Pakistan. Their viewpoint is already reflected by Pakistan," he said.
"What point does it serve them to show their presence at reception? They could have easily avoided that," he added. Omar said, "(I am) very disappointed at the turn of events." He said he was worried about this from the time when Foreign Secretary level talks were cancelled last year on the same issue.
While this was expected seeing the turn of events, nevertheless that "doesn't make the sense of disappointment any less acute", he added.
Comments
0 comment