Srinagar, May 27: The three-member British High Commission team arrived in Kashmir on a two-day visit on Friday.
Immediately after their arrival, the team headed by British High Commissioner to India Richard Stagg, First Secretary Political in British HC, Alex Bamford, Defence Advisor, Brigadier Nigel Wilimo and Political Advisor, Sushil Erin, called on moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his Nigeen residence, where he was placed under house arrest.
During the one hour interaction, the separatist leader briefed the British diplomats about the prevailing political situation in Kashmir.
“I told the British diplomats that the UK should play a role in the resolution of the Kashmir issue as the Kashmir issue was a leftover of partition of 1947. I also briefed them about the peaceful movement going on in Kashmir and told them how India was trying to link Kashmir with terrorism to defame our just struggle,” Mirwaiz told media persons.
The British diplomats also met the chief minister of the region Omar Abdullah and Governor N N Vohra during separatist meetings this afternoon. They held detailed deliberations with Chief minister and Governor, who briefed them about the political and economic developments in the region. They also briefed the British envoy about the measures taken for upliftment of people.
The British diplomats are scheduled to meet pro-independence JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik on Saturday. They are also scheduled to meet police chief Kuldeep Khoda and other civil officials tomorrow.