J&K:  Norway envoy says not mediating on Kashmir Issue, Bondevik was on personal visit

Srinagar:  After a meeting between Hurriyat Conference leaders and former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik in Srinagar, Norway envoy to India has clarified that the country is not mediating on Kashmir issue.

Norway Ambassador to India Nils Ragnar Kamsvag has said that their government has no official role in the meeting and Bondevik met in personal capacity, reported The Tribune on Sunday.

“When a former Prime Minister visits a foreign country, the concerned mission is aware of the visit. The Norwegian government was not involved officially in his meetings. The former Prime Minister runs a ‘peace centre’ and he made the visit in a personal capacity. We have no more knowledge about the purpose of his visit,” the ambassador was quoted as having said.

The former Norway premier met Hurriyat Conference chairmen Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on November 23. Later, he visited Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) where he met PaK president Sardar Masood Khan and was received by top Pakistani leaders, including Foreign Minister SM Qureshi, the daily reported.

His visit prompted political leaders including Omar Abdullah to ask if the BJP-led government had sought any mediation on Kashmir. India is opposed to third party intervention in the Kashmir and maintains the issue is to be bilaterally resolved between India and Pakistan.