New Delhi: The only issue of dispute between India and Pakistan as far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned is the illegal occupation of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan, the government said on Thursday.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh reiterated India’s demand that Pakistan should vacate illegal occupation of these areas.
Singh’s sharp remarks came in response to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit favouring resolution of Kashmir dispute as per the “aspirations of Kashmiris”.
Basit was speaking at an event at the High Commission here on Thursday to mark Pakistan’s national day.
Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Singh said “Today if there is any issue between India and Pakistan on J&K, it is only the illegal occupation by Pakistan, whether it is Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan”.
He also added, “How it can be freed from Pakistan’s occupation and made a part of the Indian republic.that is the only issue now”.
Singh said India’s position has been clear for many years now and in 1994, a resolution (on the issue) was also passed in Parliament which all political parties had supported.
Basit had said the aspirations of people “can be suppressed but not quelled and I hope the struggle of the Kashmiris will prove successful”.
Kashmir has remained a longstanding unresolved issue between the two countries causing acrimony on both sides.
Meanwhile, following Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s remarks that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved according to the aspirations of the Kashmiris, India on Thursday said that the envoy’s actions “are tantamount to interference in our internal affairs”.
“We have seen media reports about Pakistan High Commissioner’s remarks today regarding the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said in a statement.
“They are not in keeping with diplomatic niceties and are tantamount to interference in our internal affairs,” he said.
At a Pakistan Day event in New Delhi on Tuesday, Basit, expressing the hope for improved relations with India, said, “The core issue of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan must be resolved according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.”
Referring to Pakistan-India relations, he said that Pakistan was keen to settle all the issues with India, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, through dialogue.
In his statement, Baglay said: “Pakistan would be well-advised to effectively address the challenge of terrorism emanating from that country, which has adversely affected peace and stability in the entire neighbourhood as well as Pakistan’s relations with other countries.”
