Pakistan

No place for Hurriyat in peace talks, India tells Pakistan

Statement comes after Pakistan envoy claimed Indian govt does not object to his meetings with Hurriyat leaders

Web Desk March 23, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

India clarified on Monday there is no place for a third party in talks with Pakistan and the resolution of the issues between the neighbouring countries will be carried out by their respective governments.

"The government of India prefers to speak for itself. There should be no scope for misunderstanding or misinterpretation on India's position on role of 'so-called' Hurriyat," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, according to IBN Live.

"There are only two parties and there is no place for third party in resolution for the India-Pakistan issue. Only way forward to proceed on all outstanding issues is peaceful bilateral dialogue within framework of Shimla Agreement & Lahore Declaration," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin added.

Akbaruddin's statement comes on Pakistan's national day and hours after Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit claimed the Indian government does not object to his meetings with Hurriyat leaders.

“I don’t think the government of India is objecting to our meeting with Hurriyat leaders,” Abdul Basit said.

Read: Don't think Indian govt objects to us meeting Hurriyat leaders: Abdul Basit

Down playing his meetings with Hurriyat leaders which have earlier been the cause for India cancelling foreign secretary-level talks, Basit said, “Don’t try to make an issue out of non-issue.”

Earlier this month Indian foreign secretary S Jaishanker visited Pakistan and held talks with his counterparts in Islamabad.

Read: Ensuring peace and tranquility along border is vital: Indian foreign secretary

Further, earlier today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan Day.

Read: After 7-year hiatus, nation witnesses Pakistan Day parade

Modi took to social networking site Twitter and said, "It is my firm conviction that all outstanding issues can be resolved through bilateral dialogue in an atmosphere free from terror & violence."

I have written to Pakistan PM Mr. Nawaz Sharif, conveying my greetings on the National Day of Pakistan.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2015

It is my firm conviction that all outstanding issues can be resolved through bilateral dialogue in an atmosphere free from terror & violence
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2015

COMMENTS (32)

Aschraful Makhlooq PK | 9 years ago | Reply "India clarified on Monday there is no place for a third party in talks with Pakistan and the resolution of the issues between the neighbouring countries will be carried out by their respective governments." This Indian statement definitely proves that India never considers Kashmir an issue and still determined on this false,fabricated and embellished statement,id est,Kashmir is the India's integral part and never wants to conduct plebiscite in Kashmir.At least now Pakistani leadership has to realize this harsh reality and has to see the India's real face and hypocrisy regarding Kashmir.When India will consider Kashmir as an issue to be resolved on the top most priority and Kashmir's territory a disputed territory then Pakistani leadership can say that India is sincere and honest in the solution of Kashmir's issue other wise the all peace talks sessions with India are just time and money wasting and are just photo sessions and expensive dress shows.....

Jag Nathan | 9 years ago | Reply I am proud of Narender Modi and his hardline on Kashmir. Kashmiris are represented by an elected government in Srinagar. The Hurriyat are a band of traitors who should have been shot many moons ago. They have no busienss at any negotiating table. Their busienss is in front fo a firing squad.

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Azi | 9 years ago | Reply @ the gullible Indians As usual ET is not a place to discuss as one would on a fair forum. Even though I had replied to each one of you, ET feels it should give more importance to Indian. So dont think you have won anything but ET's heart.

uma | 9 years ago | Reply @Cynic Waheed Let us decide & settle the Kashmir issue once & for all by a joint vote/collective will of 1.45 billion people of india & pakistan.BY using EVMs (electronic voting machines) we can settle it in a single day. After that it is peace & development for all in south asia.

Third Umpire | 9 years ago | Reply @Pakka Indian: Totally absurd and irrelevant comment. As far as Kashmir dispute is concerned, there are several UN Security Council resolutions of 1947/48 which need to be resolved. Whereas the position of Baluchistan is totally different and cannot be equated with Kashmir issue.

amir | 9 years ago | Reply As a psychologist I can say Best way to deal with attention seeking, hyper kid with inflated ego is just avoid them. Same is applicable to disillusioned nations too. Fully aware of rapid increasing population and alarmingly decreasing resources, the way Pakistan army ex officer, bureaucrats and well to do families are settling in Canada, UK ,New Zealand , south Africa and Australia,I think they are aware that Kashmir might remain a problem for India but Pakistan would not

genesis | 9 years ago | Reply @Cynic Waheed: The thrid party should lso include Gilgit,Baltistan,Swat and othe areas which was part of the orignal satate of Kashmir.It that acceptable or discussions only on apiecemal basis suitable to one party.

PrasadDeccani | 9 years ago | Reply @lmao: You will never get any explanation.

Marco | 9 years ago | Reply @Shakil: Once you signed Simla Agreement, UN resolution is null & void. Even your so called best friend China tell you to resolve Kashmir issue bilaterally and not through UN resolutions!!!

Shakti | 9 years ago | Reply Kashmir is a land taken over by invaders after the locals were brutally displaced. India will not rest until every inch of Kashmir has been restored to it.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan forgets that they're a weak nation teetering on the edge. India is in a position of strength. Pakistan is going to subservient to Indian designs in the decades to come whether Pakistanis like it or not. (That is, if Pakistan continues as a country) That is how nature works.

kulwant singh | 9 years ago | Reply @Cynic Waheed: There are people in so called AZK thye also struggle for getting rid of Pakistan when you are going to free them. Azad Kashmir having a Prime Minister, President and Govt which is not allowed to collect taxes, no Kashmiri can become even IG of Police, you know independent country has his own army his own currency his own officers, and if AJK is independent country why should India even talk to Pakistan why not AJK Govt or leaders/

lmao | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan needs to understand one thing at Hurriyat is not the representative of Kashmiri people. The are self appointed and accepted by pakistan cos they support the Pakistani point of view. The pandits and buddist of kashmir are probably more kashmiri then the huriyat leaders and have a greater and older claim on kashmir. If Kashmiri voice is so important to pakistan why don't they talk to people from Jammu and ladak. If some Pakistani intellectual can explain to me who appointed the Hurriyat as the Kashmiri representatives I will be very grateful.

Sandip | 9 years ago | Reply @Azi: Rants or gospel truth, unfortunately you have to pay attention to everything that India says or does. The jugular is in India's hands. We can turn on the talks button or turn it off depending on what we decide.

Paul | 9 years ago | Reply "There are only two parties and there is no place for third party in resolution for the India-Pakistan issue." That is the reason why Kashmiris don't want to live with India because India doesn't even allow Kashmiris to have say in matters related to their own future. For Kashmiris, India is an imperialist country holding them hostage by gun.

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply @Cynic Waheed, nobody says Kashmir is not a party. India's position is Hurriyat does not represent Kashmir. If PDP can take part in Kashmir elections, there is nothing stopping Hurriyat from participating and showing that they actually have the backing of Kashmiris. Inciting violence alone won't do it.

Engineer | 9 years ago | Reply @Haider What? Say again. How is Kashmir problem an impediment for the prosperity of South Asia ? You need to understand the fact that solving Kashmir issue will not be handing Kashmir on platter to Pakistan or for that matter a giving independence to Kahsmir. Both scenarios won't happen and will never happen if BJP is at the helm or even Congress is at the helm. Anyone who does either of that, their political party will be buried forever in history of India. Modi government will talk for the sake of talking and don't expect any concessions because you aren't getting any.

Malatesh | 9 years ago | Reply @ET, please publish it, nothing offensive. Why Pakistan always want to include Hurriyat leaders only? there are other kashmiri leaders are there in the valley, they are also seeking freedon right? why dont you include PDP/NC others then? why only Hurriyat? Because only Hurriyat leaders are loyal to Pakistan others are just pro independent, Pakistan cannot digest this..

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply There are three parties of Kashmir..Perhaps only one party the people of Kashmir.....BJP lost mission 44....Now India should take Kashmir problem seriously for the prosperity of South Asia

Shakil | 9 years ago | Reply Kashmiries are the core part of this issue of Jammu and Kashmir! According to UN resolutions, they should be given right to plebiscite! Sure Pakistan can represent them but you cant ignore them like this. How can you ignore people that are actually Jammu and Kashmir?

Dubya | 9 years ago | Reply By meeting Pakistanis Huriyat leaders have made themselves abundantly clear that they are with Pakistan... So now the whole of India knows who are the traitors ... Huriyat by this action now has made themselves irrelevant in the world eyes ... India did played it nicely .... BRAVO India ...

In the name of love (what more) | 9 years ago | Reply Any talk between India and Pakistan, obviously needs representation from Kashmir, but how do we decide who represents Kashmir? India does not hold meetings with Pakistan Administered . Kashmiri leaders separately. It considers Pakistan to be representative of the Pakistan's Kashmir. So obviously, It would expect Pakistan to do the same. In any case, Huriyat alone cannot represent Kashmir. There are a lot of other stakeholders. Has Pakistan even once, in the last 70 odd years, tried to engage with them? No...Coz it doesn't suit their interests. But what surprises me the most is that Pakistanis become such hypocrites when it comes to Kashmir, that they loose track of what makes logical sense, something that anyways is a premium in Pakistan.

satinder | 9 years ago | Reply Kashmiri is not only Muslim (Hurriyat) but also Hindus, Sikh, Christians,Buddhist and others, Talking and inviting Hurriyat only does not make sense. Hurriyat is not the only party to the dispute. Talk to others also then it makes sense.That is Why the Elections is there.

Pakka Indian | 9 years ago | Reply @Cynic Waheed: I suppose, by the same token, India should be allowed to hold talks with Baluchi rebels who are asking for an independent Baluchistan. It's time India played this card as well.

Naresh | 9 years ago | Reply Modi is a very intelligent man. Every time he writes or talks to Nawaz Sharrif Modi knows that Nawaz Sharrif can only nod his head in agreement but he is powerless to act upon Modi's needs as Nawaz Sharrif has no Power To Do Anything. Modi is aware that it is General Sharrif to whom Nawaz Sharrif has to supplicate and thus Nawaz Sharrif cannot continue the dialogue with Modi and as such with India as General Sharrif will keep up the Traditional - Since 1947 - Stance of War and Hatred for India. . I hope General Sharrif agrees to permit Nawaz Sharrif' so that a meaningful dialogue can be held between India and Pakistan which will lead to Peace among the two Nations and Prosperity for both in the future. Wishful thinking? I hope not. Cheers

Tony Singh | 9 years ago | Reply @Cynic Waheed: Siachin - with India Kashmir - with India Sir creek - with India Still we Indians concede Pakistan is a strong country and yes Pakistan authorities can talk with Huriyyat all they want. Good luck

Diogenes | 9 years ago | Reply @Azi: What is India crying about? It issued a rebuttal to Pakistan's statement that India did not mind it being in touch with Hurriyat leaders. And that is this government's position: No dealing with Hurriyat. The choice is with Pakistan: to deal with the powerless Hurriyat or to deal with India. @Cynic Waheed: Where is the coercion? India is merely saying that we don't want to acknowledge the Hurriyat as a party to the dispute. It's up to Pakistan to choose whom to talk to.

Engineer | 9 years ago | Reply @Azi, Cynic Waheed We are not going to have talks according to your whims and fancies. Either accept our conditions or we are completely okay with no talks. You can't take Kashmir by force or your stooges in Kashmir apart from stone pelting can't much do anyway.

samir | 9 years ago | Reply strange to leave the affected party out of negotiations. Pakistan is willing to be flexible in its stance if Kashmiris agree (after all they are the ones we are fighting for), and for that to happen Kashmiris have to be part of the negotiations. India's logic is flabbergasting.

Hilarious | 9 years ago | Reply You guys keep talking to Hurriyat. We'll go on with our development agenda in J&K with the democratically elected leaders - be it PDP or NC or BJP or Congress. Self proclaimed "leaders" who dont have any legitimacy or the guts to stand for elections cant claim to have any locus standi in any talks. You guys are deluded if you expect us to recognise Hurryat as representatives of J&K.

Cynic Waheed | 9 years ago | Reply Its not between 2 parties only - There is a third part whose future depends on India and Pakistan and that party is Kashmir! So simple Maths says, there are 3 parties, India, Pakistan and Kashmir! India needs to stop dreaming that Pakistan is a Nepal or Bangladesh and will be coerced or arm twisted! Neither Pak is that weak nor India is that strong (like the US which it dreams to be). So accept the realities and stop behaving like a bully and give the due share to Kashmiris! Thanks.

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply India can go cry a new river and call it Indus v2. Let it whine, paying any attention to its rants is time wasted.

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