File Photo: Separatist Shabir Shah in New Delhi
Hurriyat Conference member Bilal Lone and Shabir Shah were among four separatists detained today at the Delhi airport to prevent them from meeting Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz who was set to arrive tomorrow.
Pakistan has called off the crucial talks, saying that the 'preconditions' set by India, including a restriction on meeting with the separatists is unacceptable.
But as uncertainty loomed large earlier in the day with the two sides passing the buck on to each other to call off the talks, all the four separatists were put under house arrest in the capital, official sources said.
Lone, who is a member of moderate faction of Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, was stopped at the ladder of the aircraft as he deplaned and was informed that he was under detention and would remain confined to his rented accommodation in South Delhi, the sources said.
Lone is the fourth separatist from Kashmir who was detained at the Delhi airport. Earlier, Shabir Shah, who broke away from Hurriyat last year and formed his Democratic Freedom Party, was detained along with two members of his party in the morning.
Bilal refused to make any comments about his detention. The separatists were told that "restrictions have been imposed on their movement in the national capital" ahead a possible talks between Mr Aziz and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, official sources said.
All the separatists were given the option that they were free only to travel to Srinagar, if they wanted to. While leaving Srinagar, Mr Shah had said the he would like to meet Mr Aziz.