NEW DELHI: The Pakistan High Commission in India has invited the Hurriyat leaders and other Kashmiri politicians to the Eid Milan party it will be holding on July 21.

“There is nothing unusual about our invite to Hurriyat leaders,” High Commissioner Abdul Basit told IANS.

He said Pakistan would continue its support for the people of Kashmir.

“Pakistan will continue extending its moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for [right to] self-determination as provided for in the United Nations Charter and universal declaration of human rights,” Mr Basit said.

Leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference were also invited by the High Commission earlier to an Iftar party. However, the party was cancelled because of the heatwave in Karachi that claimed over 1,000 lives.

Despite opposition to the “involvement of a third party” in resolving the Kashmir issue by India’s Narendra Modi-led NDA government, talks were held between the Hurriyat officials and other leaders from Kashmir with the High Commissioner. They were invited to the High Commission on Pakistan’s National Day in March.

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn ,July 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play