File photo of Separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has invited Kashmiri Separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani to visit country, a Hurriyat spokesperson has said, shortly after the leader was quoted saying that India and Pakistan should "live like good neighbours".
"Geelani was handed the invitation letter from (Nawaz) Sharif by Pakistan High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit over a dinner at the latter's residence at Tilak Marg in Delhi last night," a spokesman of the Geelani-led Hurriyat said.
The spokesperson said Syed Geelani has in principle accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan. He, however, did not give specific date of travel.
Mr Sharif termed the 'Kashmir issue' as the unfinished agenda of the creation of Pakistan and contended that friendly relations between New Delhi and Islamabad without resolving Kashmir would be nothing but "self deceit", the spokesperson said.
"In the letter, Sharif has said Kashmir is not a border dispute but concerns 'right to self-determination' of two crore people. He also said Pakistan has made it clear to India that there can be no progress on bilateral ties while ignoring Kashmir issue," the spokesman said.
"We want good relations with all our neighbours including India but New Delhi's unrealistic approach has been a big impediment," the spokesman quoted the Pakistan Prime Minister having said in the letter.
Mr Sharif was recently quoted saying that India and Pakistan should 'live like good neighbours' and solve differences through talks. In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Mr Sharif had proposed a four-point plan to resolve Indo-Pak issues which invited a strong rebuttal from Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.
India does not have four points, it has only one, she said. "Give up terrorism and we will sit and talk."