Pak calls Aseemanand's acquittal 'regrettable': India tells Pak its judiciary needs no self serving sermons

Retorting to Pakistan's comment dubbing acquittal of right-wing activist Swami Aseemanand, an accused in the deadly 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case, as 'regrettable', the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the Indian judiciary needs no self serving sermons.

"We reject Pakistan's efforts to meddle in Indian affairs, our judiciary needs no self serving sermons," said MEA official spokesperson Gopal Baglay while addressing a press conference here.

Foreign Office spokesman Pakistan Nafees Zakaria speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad earlier said Aseemanand's acquittal by a special court in a separate case is "regrettable".

A total of 68 people were killed in the blasts in two coaches of Samjhauta Express train in Panipat on February 18, 2007.  

Speaking on Pakistan's plan to declare the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region as its fifth province, Baglay asserted that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India. "Can't comment on news reports, but the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is and will remain integral part of Indian," he said.