Meeting with Kashmiri leaders a `long-standing practice`, says Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan`s Foreign Office has said that meetings with Kashmiri leaders in India has been a "common practice".

The Foreign Office statement came ahead of the NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan that are scheduled to take place on August 24.

According to Daily Times, Pakistan`s Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said the country would also raise all issues with India during the NSA-level talks.

Pakistan`s High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, had extended an invitation to the Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders to meet with Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz on August 23.

India has cautioned Pakistan not to go ahead with Sunday`s meeting.Last year, India had cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan after Basit met Kashmiri separatists ahead of the planned meet.