India cancelled its meeting with Pakistan after Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit met with Kashmiri separatist leaders, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Monday.

Indian foreign secretary Sujatha Singh reprimanded Basit, but Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson, said it has been a long-standing practice of Pakistan to talk to Kashmir's separatist leaders to gain a meaningful discussion on the Kashmir issue.

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Aslam admitted in a statement that cancelling the talks was a setback in their efforts of improving relations with India.

Before Pakistan met with the separatist group, Singh already warned the Pakistani leader against the planned talks. She called the act as an intervention in India's internal affairs.

Singh called Pakistan's outreach unacceptable and told Basit to either "choose a dialogue with India or the separatists."

The talk, which is supposed to happen on Aug. 25, was decided on a meeting between the prime ministers of both countries on May 27. Despite it being long-awaited, the meeting will not take place.

Apparently, the nature of the condemned meeting with the separatists was questionable in terms of India-Pakistan relations. Sources cite it as incoherent with the countries' improved relationship.

India External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement that Pakistan government's move to meet the separatists puts its sincerity of improving relations in question.

He cites India's efforts to advance the bilateral relationship by planning a resumption of dialogues between the countries' leaders, regretting Pakistan's move with the separatists.

The long-running conflict between the rival nations was a result of territorial dispute over Kashmir.

Kashmir, located in the Himalayan region is divided between India and Pakistan. They fought three wars since the separation in 1947.

A peace process began between the nations in 2004 to mitigate tensions, although rebel attacks did not cease completely.

For instance, Pakistani rebels attacked a commercial center in Mumbia in 2008, killing 166 people.

Tagsindia cancels talks with pakistan, India-Pakistan bilateral relations, Pakistan, Kashmiri separatist