KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
In a move read as a serious dent to India’s position, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asserted that Kashmiri separatist leaders are not a “third party” and said that any dialogue process with India which does not include Kashmir issue will be futile.
Notably, India’s foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj recently referred separatists “third party”.
“Kashmiri leaders are not the third party but an important party to this issue,” Sharif said during a cabinet meeting yesterday. “Any decision on their future cannot be made without their opinion and consultation.”
Sharif told the cabinet that any dialogue with India without Kashmir issue would be futile.
Sharif’s comments came just days after Pakistan called off the National Security Advisers-level talks at last minute after India asked it to give a commitment that it would not meet Kashmiri separatist leaders.
