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Qazi cajoles Fernandes

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi

On Thursday evening, Pakistani High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi met George Fernandes to clarify Pakistan's compulsions behind his country's move to send an invitation to Hurriyat.

Since Fernandes is going on a weeklong tour to Mongolia on Thursday night, Qazi hurriedly sought his appointment.

According to sources he tried to explain his position behind sending the invitation to Kashmiri separatists leaders to his tea party on July 14.

On Wednesday, the National Democratic Alliance had announced its decision to boycott the tea party in a unanimous decision.

The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has deputed Arjun Singh and K Natwar Singh, to represent the party at the tea party.

NDA sources said that their decision has sent a stern message across the border.

Last week Qazi had called on Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani to explain his position that the invitation to Hurriyat is not 'a bilateral talk'.

On Thursday, Qazi reportedly told Fernandes that it was not possible for Pakistan to invite Members of Parliament or any other politician from Jammu and Kashmir, as demanded by NDA, to his party because Pakistan does not recognize the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

While putting forward an argument Qazi asked as whether the Indian high commissioner will invite political leaders of Pakistan occupied Kashmir in a similar situation.

It's believed that Qazi is now trying to control the negative publicity with the help of last minute pre-summit bargaining.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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