India briefed all current members of the UNSC five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members after revoking the special status granted to Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.
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A person familiar with the development said India put forth its position on the matter underlining that it was an internal matter under the provisions of its Constitution.
The briefing to diplomats comes in the backdrop of Pakistan condemning the Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s move to bifurcate the region into Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and the Ladakh region without a legislature.
Article 370, enacted in 1954, laid down that except for matters related to defence, foreign affairs, communications and issues specified in the Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir, the Parliament needs the state government’s ratification for all other laws. So far, residents of the state lived under a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property and fundamental rights.
Reacting to the India’s decision to revoke the special status, Pakistan on Monday said it “strongly condemns and rejects the announcements made today by the Indian Government regarding the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.” The part of the state in Indian control “is an internationally recognized disputed territory,” it said.
“No unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan,” the statement said. “As a party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps.”
“Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination,” it added. Analysts have said India will have to look at Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at all possible fora, including at the forthcoming session of the UN General Assembly in September. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to the US for the UN General Assembly session and address the session on 28 September.
