Pak HC’s Kashmir remarks madden India

ISLAMABAD: A war of words began between Pakistan and India on Sunday when Pakistan’s High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit said Pakistan was dedicating its Independence Day to Kashmir’s freedom and vowed to extend diplomatic, political and moral support to its people.

Responding to his remarks, the government and the state BJP said the only outstanding issue was to liberate parts of the state under “illegal occupation of Islamabad”.Addressing the flag-hoisting ceremony arranged by the Pakistan High Commission at the Chancery in New Delhi, Basit said: “As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we are dedicating this year’s Independence Day to the freedom of Kashmir. The sacrifices made by the people of J&K will not go in vain.”

Basit said the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir could not be suppressed nor could anyone belittle or wish away their legitimate struggle and enormous sacrifices.

“The ongoing unrest should be ended. Pakistan will continue to extend its full diplomatic, political and moral support to the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir till they get their right to self determination.”

He said it was incumbent upon the international community to ensure implementation of the relevant UN resolutions to settle the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Soon after his remarks, Minister of State in the Prime Minister Modi’s office Jitendra Singh said: “The only outstanding issue is how to liberate parts of J&K which are under illegal occupation of Islamabad.

“Our stand is very clear in the context of J&K issue. If at all there is any outstanding issue with Pakistan, it is how to liberate the part of J&K which remains under illegal occupation of Islamabad after 60-65 years of independence and make it a part of J&K and part of the Indian Union,” he said.

The Congress sought an apology from the envoy and criticised the ruling BJP for “failing to ostracise Islamabad” globally.

“Firstly, the government should have sent representatives in each country with factual dossiers and prove that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism. That way the government would have embarrassed the country [Pakistan] on a global scale,” senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

Singhvi said ever since the BJP government came to power, the foreign policy vis-à-vis Pakistan had been in a “zigzag mode.” As a result, India was losing diplomatic dominance over the rival country.

The BJP demanded that the union government declare the diplomat a ‘persona non-grata’.

“The Government of India must declare Abdul Basit a persona non-grata and expel him immediately,” party spokesman, Brig (retd) Anil Gupta said.

Gupta said Basit’s controversial statements on Kashmir and his act of dedicating Pakistan’s Independence Day today “to the independence of Kashmir” were blatant breaches of diplomatic protocol.

“(Abdul) Basit has on earlier occasions also crossed the ‘Red Line’, which was ignored by the government. Yet he continues to misuse his diplomatic immunity by meddling in India’s internal affairs,” Mr Gupta said.

He said Basit has not only been interacting with the “separatists”, but also issuing provocative statements.

The Shiv Sena said Basit should be sent back to Islamabad within 24 hours. The Indian government also reacted strongly to Basit’s remarks on Kashmir’s “freedom”.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut called for the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission’s Office in New Delhi and the embassy in Mumbai.

“Such a person, who spews venom against the country while sitting in Delhi, should be sent back to Islamabad within 24 hours. He is making such statements a day before our Independence Day and I’m sure the government will take action against him,” Raut said.

Meanwhile, the Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nezapir sector near Rawlakot on Sunday while Pakistan was celebrating its 70th Independence Day.

The Indian military used all types of heavy weapons, including mortar and artillery, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.

Some of rounds landed at the civilian houses. However, no loss of life was reported till the filing of this report in the evening.

The firing started at 0200 hours and lasted till 0830 hours. The Pakistani troops befittingly responded to the unprovoked firing.

The DGMO of Pakistan Army contacted his Indian counterpart on hotline to lodge a protest against the unprovoked firing.

Indian Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta, however, claimed that the Pakistan Army resorted to an unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC in the Poonch sector, Times of India reported.

Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar attacked Pakistan on the issue of terrorism and its handling of Balochistan.

“Pakistan is facing the problem of terrorism to such an extent that while they push 10 jihadis into our side, there is a bomb blast that kills 70-80 people somewhere in Pakistan,” he said at an event organised by Chinmaya Mission here.

Parrikar said Pakistan was the “only country to bomb its own citizens”. “While they talk about Kashmir, the way they deal with PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and Balochistan…it is the only country which bombs its own citizens,” he claimed.