Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday tore in to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and questioned that if New Delhi can participate at a non-official level in the Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan, which will be attended by Taliban delegation, then why can't it hold a dialogue with "non-mainstream stake holders' in regard with the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.


Abdullah tweeted, "If "non-official" participation in a dialogue that includes the Taliban is acceptable to the Modi government why not a "non-official" dialogue with non-mainstream stake holders in J&K? Why not a "non-official" dialogue centered around J&K's eroded autonomy & its restoration?"


On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs headed by Sushma Swaraj confirmed the participation and said, "Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level. India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability, and prosperity to the country. India's consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with the participation of the Government of Afghanistan," the MEA said. -- ANI