Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani (File photo)
In a surprise snub to Pakistan, the Hurriyat and the leader of its hardline faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani have decided to "boycott" the Eid Milan being hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in Delhi on July 21.
The decision -- a first for Mr Geelani -- came in protest against the non-inclusion of Kashmir in the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa in Russia last week.
Confirming the boycott, a spokesperson of Hurriyat said, "Hurriyat has decided against taking part in the Eid Milan party of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The non-inclusion of Kashmir was unfortunate."
Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi had telephoned Mr Geelani to extend him an invite, he said.
"Mr Geelani, however, told him that a decision to attend the meet will be taken after consultations. The Hurriyat met today and decided to boycott the event," the spokesperson said.
"Kashmir is an issue of 13 million people and they cannot be taken for granted or sidelined at any point of time," he added.
The Eid Milan invitation to Kashmir's separatist groups by Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit created a controversy days after PM Modi held formal talks with Mr Sharif on the sidelines of a regional summit in Russia's Ufa. There was no mention of Kashmir in the joint statement that had followed.
But the progress made appreared to be in question as days later, Mr Sharif's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz said there could be no dialogue without Kashmir on the agenda.
Official sources here said India is committed to the joint statement, not by what Pakistan says to its domestic audience.