NSA talks: Separatist leader Shabbir Shah leaves for Delhi, says won't back out from talks

Firm on meeting with Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz, Separatist leader Shabbir Shah on 22 August said that they will not back out of the talks between India and Pakistan. "We will meet Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz ji tomorrow at the Pakistan House in the evening," Shah told the media in Srinagar while leaving for New Delhi.

"We have been going since 25 years to meet with Pakistan, be it, NDA Government led by Atal ji or UPA," he added.

Asserting that peaceful dialogue is the only way to resolve issues, he said: "If India doesn't hold talks how will peace be established in South-Asia?"

"We will not back out. We will go to Delhi and meet them. It is important for us to go so that we can seek answers from Pakistan's side also," he added.

The National Security Adviser-level talks between India scheduled for 23-24 August looked increasingly uncertain after a day long face off over a meeting between Pakistan's NSA Sartaj Aziz and Hurriyat leaders.

India sees the meeting as a "distortion of the agreed agenda" between Prime Minister Narendr Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia. On the other hand, Pakistan responded by saying it was "deeply disappointed" at India putting forth "pre conditions" to the talks.

(With inputs from ANI)