Farooq Abdullah 'surprised' that Pakistan considers Hurriyat as Kashmir's only 'representatives'

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said that Pakistan should not indulge in any talks with Hurriyat leaders if they are serious about its commitment to fight terrorism. 

"Decision of Indo-Pak NSA level talks was taken by the two leaders in Moscow, but involvement of any third party was not discussed. It is surprising that Pakistan wants to demonstrate that only Hurriyat represents Jammu and Kashmir. If Pakistan serious about its commitment to fight terrorism, they must not hold talks with Hurriyat. Even Hurriyat must also be magnanimous," Abdullah said.

"If the Hurriyat wants that the Indo-Pak talks go forward, then they should tell Pakistan that any talks with them is not possible right now," he further added. 

Earlier on Friday, Abdullah had urged the separatists not to meet Sartaj Aziz. 

"I request them (separatists) not to meet Aziz and let the National Security Adviser-level talks go ahead between the two countries... may be something comes out of these talks that will (deal with) cross-border shelling," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said. Abdullah was responding to the Ministry of External Affairs' 'advice' to Pakistan not to go ahead with Aziz's engagement with the Kashmiri separatists during his visit to India for talks with NSA Ajit Doval on August 23.

Abdullah said that if the talks are called off by India, cross-border shelling would resume, "may be, with added intensity". He, meanwhile, slammed "vested interests" in both India and Pakistan for being opposed to peace prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir.