In Delhi, Kashmiri separatists are held, Pakistan reception still on
The separatist leaders were told that "restrictions have been imposed on their movement in the national capital" ahead a possible talks between Aziz and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, official sources said.
Separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah left for New Delhi on Saturday morning ahead of his scheduled meeting with Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi on August 23. (Source: Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)Four moderate Kashmiri separatist leaders invited by Pakistan for a reception for Sartaj Aziz were detained on Saturday when they flew down to Delhi, before the cancellation of the NSA talks.
Shabir Shah and aides Mohammed Abdullah Tari and Zamir Ahmed Sheikh were taken to a guest-house in South Delhi, which the Delhi Police had put under watch late Friday night.
By Saturday evening, Bilal Lone had been detained and taken to his rented accommodation in South Delhi's Greater Kailash II.
The Pakistan High Commission's invitation to the Hurriyat leaders for the reception, scheduled for Sunday night, stands as of now.
Shah at a South Delhi guest-house where he is being kept. (Source: PTI)In Srinagar, Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who continued to be under detention at his Hyderpora residence, blamed "the stubbornness of India" for the cancellation of talks. "India has been corrupted by power and that is why they are behaving like this," he said.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik said it was the legitimate right of the Kashmiri people to be part of the talks between the two countries. "Across the globe, when any dialogue takes place, all the stakeholders are called to the table. If some people are saying that Kashmiri leaders should not be included in the talks, then it is the biggest insult to the people of Kashmir."
The spokesperson of the ruling PDP, Mehboob Beg, earlier said Geelani would be released "the day he has to leave for Delhi". Asked why he continued to be detained when Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had earlier talked of "battle of ideas", Beg said, "It shouldn't have happened, but separatists too have some responsibilities. We released Masarat Alam, even with a limited mandate, but he waved Pakistani flags."
Lone, Shah and aides Tari and Sheikh were earlier all told they were free to return to Kashmir if they wished, but wouldn't be allowed to leave their places of detention in Delhi. While Shah broke away from the Hurriyat last year and formed his Democratic Freedom Party, Lone is an executive member of the moderate Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.
The South Extension guest-house where Shah was taken has been put under heavy cover, with barricades cordoning off access and at least 20 policemen deployed outside. Police have taped two A4 sheets over the nameplate of the guest-house. "National security is involved," said a police officer.
Shah briefly appeared on the third-floor balcony of the guest-house, waving to the media gathered below. "Aap samajhiye, main bahar nahin aa sakta (Please try and understand. I cannot come out)," he said.
The housekeeper said Shah had booked two rooms at the guest-house till Monday, and the Delhi Police too had booked a room.
"Police said they were not arresting him, only watching him and restricting his movement. So a police team of around 15 men is camping at the guest-house as well," a senior staffer said.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/shabir-shah-put-under-house-arrest-as-he-arrives-in-delhi-to-meet-pakistan-nsa/#sthash.PnGX9NQH.dpuf
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