JOIN USGovt to block separatists meet with Pak NSA
Toughening its stand on separatist leaders, the Centre is planning not to allow Hurriyat leaders to meet Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz on Sunday by detaining them either in Kashmir or when they reach Delhi.
The Centre’s thinking is that if at all Pakistan wants to talk, they should talk to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed "who is an elected representative" and not Hurriyat Conference leaders.
Official sources said the security establishment's thinking is that the Hurriyat leaders should not be allowed to leave Jammu and Kashmir for the proposed meeting on Sunday.
Even if they reach Delhi, sources said, the feeling is that they should not be allowed to come out of the airport. The leaders could be taken on preventive detention once they reach the national capital, they said.
India has made it clear that there should be no meetings between the Pakistan NSA and separatists. Sources said New Delhi is also not comfortable with Aziz talking to the separatists after the NSA level talks.
As both the countries fought the battle of attrition, National Security Advisor Ajith Doval met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday morning to firm up India's strategy on Hurriyat leaders. Home Secretary L C Goyal and chiefs of intelligence agencies also attended the meeting.
Agenda
While Pakistan wants a variety of issues to be discussed, New Delhi is adamant that the agenda of Sunday talks is restricted to terror. India has already prepared a dossier on 60 fugitives holed up in Pakistan. The document will be handed over to Aziz during talks. The Union Home Ministry has also instructed the Border Security Force (BSF) to be alert on International Border with Pakistan as there could be ceasefire violations by the neighbouring country.
“We have to be alert. Normally, whenever there is talks, there are ceasefire violations,” a senior official said.