India on Wednesday summoned the Pakistani envoy and warned that continued contact between leading figures of the Imran Khan government in Islamabad and Kashmiri separatists will have ‘implications’.
The warning came hours after Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, telephoned Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief of All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir.
Sources said that the Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood was summoned late on Wednesday evening for a meeting during which Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale asked Pakistan to desist from such actions.
“The Foreign Secretary conveyed that this deplorable act has violated all norms for the conduct of international relations even by Pakistan’s own standards. The Pakistan Foreign Minister’s actions are tantamount to direct interference in the internal affairs of its neighbour,” an MEA release stated.
India said that the conversation has exposed Pakistan’s double-speak regarding normal ties with India.
“The Pakistan Foreign Minister’s actions are tantamount to direct interference in the internal affairs of its neighbour,” said the MEA press release.
Resolve Kashmir peacefully: Pakistan
Responding to the Indian statement, Pakistan said that it remains committed to extending “political, diplomatic and moral support” to the agitators in Kashmir.
“The Government of Pakistan categorically rejects the objections raised by India to the Pakistan Foreign Minister’s telephonic call to All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,” said a press release from the office of the Spokesperson of MoFA in Islamabad which argued that Pakistani leadership has always maintained such communications
“This is not anything new,” said the press release about the latest conversation that drew India’s strong response.
