Pakistan has assured that it would not put the core issue of Kashmir on the backburner, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said on Friday.
"This assurance was given by Pakistan's foreign secretary Salman Bashir to Kashmiri leaders when they called on him at New Delhi, a day before formal talks between the two countries," Mirwaiz told a congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
Mirwaiz, who was among top separatists leaders who met Bashir on February 24, said the foreign secretary told them that "unless Kashmir issue is resolved as per the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris, the ties between India and Pakistan will not improve. Pakistan attaches top priority to Kashmir issue in the talks with India."
Referring to the clashes between two sects of Muslims at Pattan on Thursday, Mirwaiz appealed to the people to "foil the evil designs of anti-movement elements bent upon to divide the Muslims over frivolous issues".
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