New Delhi: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri today (Sep 6, 2004) met Kashmiri separatist leaders Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik, who emphasised that the Indo-Pak talks would be futile till Kashmiris are involved in the process.

Shah and Malik, who had separate nearly two-hour long meetings with Kasuri in New Delhi, told reporters that the Kashmir issue was a trilateral matter and Kashmiris being "primary party" had to be involved.

Shah, who heads Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, also suggested that the Government form a 'Kashmir Committee' under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan.

"Kashmir is a trilateral issue and inclusion of Kashmiris is a must," Shah told Kasuri.

Appreciating the Confidence Building Measures taken by India and Pakistan, he said, "These should be reflected in Kashmir and atrocities there should end."

Asked about the efforts being made to re-unite Hurriyat factions, JKLF (Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front) leader Malik said it was an internal matter.

Shah insisted that while all issues between India and Pakistan could be bilateral, Kashmir issue had to be resolved trilaterally.

Kasuri met hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq yesterday.