The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday reached out to the member-states of the U.N. Security Council and briefed envoys on the decision to end the Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir, sources confirmed.
The Indian outreach came as Pakistan said New Delhi’s move was unacceptable to Islamabad.
Sources said the outreach was carried out on the basis of a request from members of the diplomatic community.
“Senior MEA officials are briefing the envoys of several countries, including permanent members of U.N., on proposals related to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and administrative reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir that were introduced in Parliament today,” said a source, indicating that the envoys were told that the legislative procedure was an “internal” affair of India.
Diplomats were told that the Indian parliamentary move was aimed at ensuring “good governance, promoting social justice and ensuring economic development” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following India’s move, Pakistan maintained that the territory continues to remain an international dispute. “No unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. As a party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps,” said the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had called for international mediation on Kashmir, citing escalating tension over Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Islamabad would display “abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause.” Continuing the Pakistani argument, the statement from the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry reiterated that Islamabad would continue to extend support in the quest of “inalienable right to self-determination” of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
