NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz was reminded by Hurriyat Conference leaders here on Sunday to include Kashmiris in future peace talks between India and Pakistan. They also told him that recent military flare-ups on the Line of Control were against the interests of civilians on both sides of the divide.

Mr Aziz, who arrived on Sunday, will participate in a Europe-Asia meeting on Monday, followed by a bilateral meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to host a dinner for the foreign ministers participating in the two-day conference at which Mr Aziz could get an opportunity to talk to him briefly. It was not clear if there would be a separate call on the prime minister by the Pakistani premier’s adviser.

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described Mr Aziz’s meeting with the Hurriyat as a diplomatic blunder by India.

However, Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq quickly pointed out that Kashmiri leaders had been meeting senior Pakistani officials even during the Vajpayee regime.

BJP president Rajnath Singh said: “By allowing Sartaj Aziz to hold talks with Kashmiri separatists the UPA government has committed another diplomatic blunder with serious costs to national security and national interest.”

The Indian government, however, maintained it was not compromising in any way on the Kashmir issue. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said: “The Hurriyat should also introspect on this matter that if they are really representatives of the people then they must participate in the democratic process.”

Emerging from an hour-long meeting at the Pakistan High Commission, the moderate faction led by Maulvi Farooq said that the talks were aimed at finding a lasting political solution to the Kashmir issue, a key element for normalising ties between the two countries.

Besides the Mirwaiz, JKLF chief Yaseen Malik and hardline Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Dukhtaran-i-Millat had separate meetings with Mr Aziz.

Mr Malik told Dawn he reminded the visiting official that four generations of Kashmiris had been destroyed and of those who survived 95 per cent were stricken with depression. “Without progress on the most heart wrenching human tragedy, how can the two countries normalise relations?” Mr Malik asked.

Mr Geelani, who had arrived near Pakistan High Commission much before time, decided not to enter the premises till the team led by Mirwaiz was there. The moment they came out, Mr Geelani went in.

“We want to see that the relations between the two countries are good and this would be possible only after the Kashmir issue is settled in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Mirwaiz said.

To a question that the BJP had opposed their meeting with Mr Aziz terming it as anti-national, the Hurriyat chairman replied, “I wonder how is this anti-national. The meeting is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue which is in the interest of India, Pakistan as well as people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The Mirwaiz replied that Hurriyat had been meeting with Pakistani leaders during the NDA regime under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his deputy L.K. Advani. “Sad to see them (BJP) terming this meeting as anti-India. In fact such talks must be encouraged,” he said, adding, “We seek cooperation not confrontation” from BJP and other political parties.