India has called off next week's long-awaited talks with Pakistan, citing a meeting in New Delhi between Pakistan's ambassador to India and Kashmiri separatists.
An Indian foreign ministry statement says the invitation by Pakistan's High Commissioner to separatists raised questions about Pakistan's sincerity in improving relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan described India's decision to cancel the meeting as a "setback," saying it has a longstanding practice to meet with Kashmiri leaders prior to India-Pakistan talks in order to facilitate meaningful discussion on the issue of Kashmir.
The foreign secretaries from both India and Pakistan were set to meet next week in Islamabad to discuss the resumption of a formal dialogue.
