Indo-Pak Talks Futile sans Kashmiris, Hurriyat leaders tell Kasuri
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

NEW DELHI (India): Kashmiri liberation leaders, Shabbir Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik met Pakistani Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri Monday and emphasised that the Indo-Pak talks would be futile till Kashmiris are involved in the process.

Shah and Malik, who had separate nearly two-hour long meetings with Kasuri in New Delhi, told reporters that the Kashmir issue was a trilateral matter and Kashmiris being "primary party" had to be involved.

Appreciating the Confidence Building Measures taken by India and Pakistan, Shah said, "these should be reflected in Kashmir and atrocities there should end". Shah insisted that while all issues between India and Pakistan could be bilateral, Kashmir issue had to be resolved trilaterally.

Kasuri met APHC Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani on Saturday and Mir Waiz Umar Farooq Sunday.

JKLF leader Muhammad Yasin Malik also reiterated his stand that dialogue between India and Pakistan is incomplete without the participation of the people of Kashmir. "The bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan cannot take place without the people of Kashmir. The people of Kashmir are the principal party to the dispute. They have a legal and constitutional right to participate in the talks," said the leader.●