In a quick U-turn, the Jammu and Kashmir government released all three separatist leaders after putting them under house arrest for two hours.

The J&K police has released separatist leader Yasin Malik, the Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the  Chairman of the Awami Action Committee and hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. While Malik was detained at a Srinagar police station, Mirwaiz and Geelani were placed under house arrest.

The move comes a day after Pakistan invited them to a 'reception party' at the Pakistani embassy in Delhi with Sartaj Aziz, the neighbouring country's national security adviser.  Aziz was invited to New Delhi for the NSA-level talks as decided at Ufa.

The Hurriyat leaders had accepted the invitation and said they would meet Aziz to discuss their issues. Following their release from detention, the separatists are likely to meet the Pakistani NSA on Sunday.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the government move in this tweet: "I've never seen an Indo-Pak dialogue where both sides are so keen to sabotage it. India & Pak competing to give reasons to call off talks." 

Pic: A police van blocks the entrance of Syed Ali Shah Geelani this morning. The hardline separatist leader was released after being put under house arrest for two hours. Photo: Umar Ganie