Pakistan FO rejects Indian FM’s misleading remarks on Kashmir dispute

Islamabad: In response to recent comments by Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar regarding the disputed region of Kashmir, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has firmly rejected any notion that the Kashmir dispute can be settled unilaterally.

On Sunday, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is internationally recognized and must be resolved in line with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Baloch underscored that the resolution of this conflict is crucial for peace and stability in South Asia.

Jaishankar’s remarks, made at a private event on Friday, included a declaration that the era of “uninterrupted dialogue” with Pakistan has ended. He further asserted that New Delhi would respond to developments related to Kashmir—whether positive or negative—indicating that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is now settled with the abrogation of Article 370, and questioning the future relationship with Pakistan.

In her response, Baloch labeled Jaishankar’s statements as “misleading and dangerously delusional,” asserting that they ignore the realities on the ground. “India’s unilateral actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) cannot and will not change this reality,” Baloch stated.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy and dialogue, but warned that any hostile actions would be met with “unyielding resolve.” She called on India to abandon its “provocative rhetoric” and engage in meaningful dialogue for a just and lasting resolution to the Kashmir dispute.

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The FO statement highlighted that true peace and stability in South Asia can only be achieved through a settlement that respects UNSC resolutions and the inalienable rights of the Kashmiri people.

Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated after the Modi-led government in India unilaterally revoked the special status of IIOJK in August 2019, a move that Islamabad contended undermined the environment for dialogue. Pakistan has linked the normalization of relations with India to the restoration of IIOJK’s special status.

Despite ongoing tensions, both countries renewed the 2003 ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC) in February 2021, demonstrating a cautious but notable step towards easing military hostilities.