Meeting Kashmiri separatists a long standing practice: Abdul Basit

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit said on Wednesday that Pakistan appreciates PM Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech in which he called for SAARC nations to co-operate.

Abdul Basit was addressing a press conference in New Delhi.

Abdul Basit also said that "our priority is to promote peace and regional security in South Asia."

"Pakistan stands by its commitment, attaches immense importance to having better relations with India," Abdul Basit said.

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The envoy also added that there is a national consensus in Pakistan to have normal relations with India. Both countries need to work together, Basit said.

When asked about his meeting with Kashmiri separatists, Basit said that "this has been a long standing practice, have nothing more to add to this."

"We believe that Kashmiris are legitimate stakeholders in the peace process," the Pakistani envoy said.

(Abdul Basit)

On Tuesday, Abdul Basit met hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and then moderate leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, a day after India called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan over the issue.

Geelani met Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit for two-and-half hours at the Pakistan high commission, emerging from the talks at 2.30pm. Later, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Mohammad Yasin Malik and the Mirwaiz also met the Pakistani envoy.

(With inputs from IANS)

http://ift.tt/1kSINoK separatists,Abdul Basit