India on Thursday urged Pakistan to review its decision of downgrading the diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country.
“The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “The Government of India regrets the steps announced by Pakistan and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved,” it said. “Recent decisions by the Government and Parliament of India are driven by a commitment to extend to Jammu and Kashmir opportunities for development that were earlier denied by a temporary provision in the Constitution. Its impact would also result in the removal of gender and socio-economic discrimination. It is also expected to result in an upswing of economic activity and improvement in the livelihood prospects of all people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement further stated.
Pakistan rejected India’s statement calling the deteriorating situation in occupied valley its ‘internal affair’. Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Faisal while briefing the media in the day said, “Pakistan categorically rejects India’s statement that Kashmir is an internal matter.” He also reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue its political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris in achieving their right to self-determination.
Within an hour of the government decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with India on Wednesday, Pakistan had officially asked New Delhi to withdraw its High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria from Islamabad. Similarly, Pakistan now will not send its newly appointed envoy Moinul Haq to New Delhi, who was due to take up his new diplomatic assignment on August 16.
