Separatist leader Yasin Malik to skip Pakistan High Commission's reception

Srinagar: Separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik will skip Pakistan High Commission’s reception being hosted for Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz and will instead send a two-member delegation of his outfit.

“JKLF has decided to send a delegation comprising of vice chairman Showkat Ahmad Bakshi and secretary general Ghulam Rasool Dar Eidi to Delhi on the arrival of Aziz,” Malik told reporters in Srinagar.

He announced the decision after a meeting of his outfit to discuss the invitation of Pakistan High Commission.

Malik refused to give any reason for skipping the reception when asked why he himself was not going.

While Malik will be skipping the reception, leaders of other separatist groups would be attending the event and meet Aziz who is coming to India for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

The JKLF chief said people of Kashmir have full faith in the fact that only talks and negotiations can resolve the disputes and issues.

“But for that, parties engaged in the process should have magnanimity, seriousness and strong will to resolve issues. …If India and Pakistan want to resolve issues and are serious to resolve Kashmir dispute, they should accept the ownership and prime party status of people of Jammu Kashmir and include them on the negotiation table,” he added.

PTI