Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and scrap the special status for Jammu and Kashmir through a presidential decree hours after forcing a major security shut-down in the region.
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“The Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (that’s what Pakistan calls Jammu and Kashmir) is an internationally recognised disputed territory,” the Foreign Office said in a press statement.
It further said that no unilateral step by India can change the disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
“Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. As a party to the international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps,” the statement added.
“Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination,” it maintained.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also reemphasised Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmir cause and said it will raise the matter with the US and other global stakeholders.
“We intend to firmly highlight our stance in our meetings with the US delegation visiting Pakistan and with the International Community at large,” the minister said in a tweet.
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In earlier comments, Qureshi called on the United Nations to play its due role in resolving the Kashmir issue. “Today is a black day in the history of Kashmir. We cannot stay silent on the issue.”
He said India was losing credibility on the international front as the people of Jammu and Kashmir have opposed the Modi government’s decision. “The secular India of Nehru and Gandhi is dead. I foresee further repression; abrogation of Article 370 will lead to more bloodbath in IoK.”
“India wants to completely occupy Jammu and Kashmir. Modi’s India is the India of Hindutva.” He said the global Muslim community will have to play an effective role to resolve the Kashmir issue.
