Hurriyat declines Pakistan High Commission's Eid Milan invite

Geelani says he will not attend the event in protest of Nawaz, Modi 'ignoring' Kashmir during meeting in Russia

All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani declined on Tuesday Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi's invitation for Eid Milan.

"I will register my protest by not attending the Eid Milan as the two prime ministers did not discuss the Kashmir issue during their talks in the Russian city of Ufa on July 10," Geelani said, referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's recent meeting.

“As the two prime ministers ignored the fate of over 10 million people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in their meeting, we reject being a part of any of their (Pakistan's) celebrations,” Geelani said, over the phone from Srinagar.

Read: Kashmir leaders invited for Eid Milan

Pakistan’s High Commission in India invited Hurriyat leaders and other separatists from Kashmir to its Eid Milan party to be held on July 21. At the time, Geelani had said the decision whether to attend the party or not, was yet to be made by the party.

However, today the Hurriyat leader said, “The Kashmir issue is a question of life and death for us. Nobody can take us for granted. And I will not attend the Eid Milan in New Delhi to register a symbolic protest."

According to Zee News, sources in Hurriyat Conference said that no member from the party will attend the event.

Read: Kashmir issue to be tackled through back-channel diplomacy: Aziz

"The scheduled Iftar party at the high commission earlier this month, which was to be attended by Hurriyat leaders from various factions, was canceled to create a favourable atmosphere for meeting of the two prime ministers," the source said.

“It is unfortunate that Kashmir issue was neglected in the (Ufa) meeting. The main issue between the two countries is Kashmir - and they chose not to talk about its resolution. The cancellation of Iftar party was to create a feasible environment for the (Nawaz-Modi) meeting,” a source said.

Read: Salman Khurshid to Modi: Don’t expect dramatic results from Pakistan visit

The meeting of the two premiers has provided a much-needed ice-breaker in Pakistan, India talks. In August 2014, India called off secretary-level talks with Pakistan following a meeting between Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and Hurriyat leaders from Kashmir.

The government has said PM Nawaz and Modi decided to resolve the longstanding disputes of Kashmir, Siachen, and Sir Creek through ‘back-channel diplomacy’during their Russia meeting.

This article originally appeared on Zee News