Kashmir unrest: 'Pakistan used Hurriyat to hamper peace in Valley'

Jammu: National Panthers Party chief Harsh Dev Singh criticized the meeting of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi and Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Tuesday and alleged that Islamabad has used Hurriyat to vitiate the peace in Kashmir.

"Hurriyat leaders have been allowed an easy access to Pakistan High Commission and they have been meeting the high commissioner earlier also and once again Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi has called on the High Commission of Pakistan. They have discussed Kashmir as well this only shows that how is trying to persuade Hurriyat and other separatist to continue their struggle and crusade against India. That amply reveals their mindset and they are interested in vitiating peace and continue to do so," he said.

"There have been several occasions where Hurriyat leaders have been meeting Pakistani high commissioner and Indian government has failed to act against Hurriyat for political reasons because BJP is a partner in PDP government in Kashmir which has a soft corner for the separatists and other Hurriyat leaders," he added.

"We believe that government of India needs to assert and it should disallow such meetings because they tend to promote violence in Kashmir and they are being tutored by Pakistan and Islamabad is operating through this Hurriyat and other separatists," Singh told ANI here.Harsh Dev Singh urged the Union government to monitor these meetings sternly.

On Tuesday, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi met Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and discussed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of continued unrest in the Valley which has been witnessing violent protests since July 8 after the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, who has been hailed by Pakistan government as a "martyr".

"The APHC leader Syed Al-Moosvi met Basit at the High Commission here and discussed the situation in the state," Pakistan High Commission sources said. However, they did not divulge any further details of the meeting.Syed Al-Moosvi along with other party leaders had strongly condemned the restrictions and use of force by security personnel.