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  India   Pak’s longing for J&K has been exposed: India

Pak’s longing for J&K has been exposed: India

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Jul 22, 2016, 6:54 am IST
Updated : Jul 22, 2016, 6:54 am IST

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Thursday demanded that Pakistan “ensure full safety and security of the Indian high commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan”, given the “

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Thursday demanded that Pakistan “ensure full safety and security of the Indian high commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan”, given the “threats of marches and protests”. It added that “the events were led by UN-designated terrorists who had in the past protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan”. India also said Pakistan must stop deceiving the international community by holding “meaningless exercises, such as the so-called elections in PoK”, adding that “Pakistan’s longing for the territory of J&K” had been “exposed”.

Hitting back against the “observance of ‘Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day’ (July 19) and ‘Black Day’ (July 20) in Pakistan and PoK”, the MEA said, “We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan and PoK over the last two days. We have also noted that the events were led by UN-designated terrorists, who had in the past protested against the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan. India strongly condemns the encouragement and support which such terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan’s state.”

The MEA added, “We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner. The observance of ‘Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day’ exposes Pakistan’s longing for the territory of J&K. India demands that Pakistan must fulfil the obligation to vacate its illegal occupation of PoK, adding, “It must also stop misleading the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises such as the so-called elections today in PoK which Pakistan ironically calls ‘Azad’ (free).”

“In view of the threats of marches and protests at the high commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety of the high commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan,” New Delhi said.

In Parliament, the home minister said. “We all feel sad over the lives lost and those injured.” Referring to many members’ concerns over the use pellet guns, he said one person had died due to injuries caused by these weapons and 53 suffered injuries to their eyes. These guns, categorised as non-lethal, were used in 2010 as well, causing six deaths then and resulting in injuries to 98, including five who went completely blind, he said, rejecting criticism that the security forces used them indiscriminately. “We will form a committee of experts to see what non-lethal alternatives we can bring in place of pellet guns. It will give its report in two months,” he said.

“It does not need to worry about Muslims in India” and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. He also recalled the BJP stalwart’s mantra of “Kashmiriyat, jamhuriyat (democracy) and insaniyat” to solve the problem. “The youths of Kashmir are also patriots. There is an attempt to misguide some... There is a mindset that stokes baseless anger against India,” he said, adding that the same “distorted mindset” can be seen in parts of Chhattisgarh, a reference to Maoist violence there.

“I myself want to go there and stay in a guest house to establish dialogue with the people there... We are sure that we will succeed in improving the conditions in Kashmir,” Mr Singh said. The home minister termed plebiscite an “outdated and irrelevant” idea.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi