Pakistan’s reference to Kashmir issue at Asian-African summit ‘most unfortunate’: India
Pakistan snubbed Indian observation that the summit was not an appropriate forum to raise the Kashmir issue
Responding to the Indian objection, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said “What Pakistan has stated is a fact, that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are still awaiting the fulfilment of their inalienable right to self-determination.” PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Kashmir once again took the center stage when India objected over Pakistan’s reference to Kashmir issue at the Asian-African summit in Jakarta, terming it ‘most unfortunate’. Islamabad though snubbed it.
The Indian reaction came following the address of the Advisor to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz where he had again raised the issue of right to self-determination for Kashmiris.
Read: Indonesia summit: Aziz pleads cause of Kashmir and Palestine
"It is most unfortunate that Pakistan has once again chosen to use an international forum such as this to make tendentious remarks about the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India," the Indian external affairs ministry said in a release on Thursday.
Responding to the Indian objections, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said “What Pakistan has stated is a fact, that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are still awaiting the fulfillment of their inalienable right to self-determination.”
While snubbing the Indian observation that the summit was not an appropriate forum to raise the Kashmir issue, the statement issued by the foreign ministry claimed that the “fundamental rights and the right to self-determination was the cornerstone of the Bandung Declaration”.
Asserting Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue that the region ‘is neither an integral part of India, nor has it ever been’, the statement said that the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir is recognised by the UN Security Council.
It further stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have yet to exercise their right to self-determination, which is exactly what Pakistan had said.
Expressing its willingness to discuss discuss the Jammu and Kashmir issue bilaterally with India, Pakistan maintained that the Kashmir issue is not merely a bilateral matter. It is an international issue as it on the agenda of UN.
This article originally appeared on ZeeNews
Kashmir once again took the center stage when India objected over Pakistan’s reference to Kashmir issue at the Asian-African summit in Jakarta, terming it ‘most unfortunate’. Islamabad though snubbed it.
The Indian reaction came following the address of the Advisor to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz where he had again raised the issue of right to self-determination for Kashmiris.
Read: Indonesia summit: Aziz pleads cause of Kashmir and Palestine
"It is most unfortunate that Pakistan has once again chosen to use an international forum such as this to make tendentious remarks about the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India," the Indian external affairs ministry said in a release on Thursday.
Responding to the Indian objections, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said “What Pakistan has stated is a fact, that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are still awaiting the fulfillment of their inalienable right to self-determination.”
While snubbing the Indian observation that the summit was not an appropriate forum to raise the Kashmir issue, the statement issued by the foreign ministry claimed that the “fundamental rights and the right to self-determination was the cornerstone of the Bandung Declaration”.
Asserting Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue that the region ‘is neither an integral part of India, nor has it ever been’, the statement said that the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir is recognised by the UN Security Council.
It further stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have yet to exercise their right to self-determination, which is exactly what Pakistan had said.
Expressing its willingness to discuss discuss the Jammu and Kashmir issue bilaterally with India, Pakistan maintained that the Kashmir issue is not merely a bilateral matter. It is an international issue as it on the agenda of UN.
This article originally appeared on ZeeNews