Pakistan Lodges Strong Demarche with US Over Envoy’s Kashmir Remarks
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States of America (U.S. MFA) has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan regarding the comments made by the U.S. Ambassador to India on the status of Jammu and Kashmir, which were “factually incorrect”. In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Pakistan has strongly condemned and categorically rejected the terminology of Jammu and Kashmir as “part of India”. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory which can only be solved according to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and Kashmiri aspirations, it was emphasized during the meeting.
The Foreign Office spokesperson noted that the irresponsible comment by the U.S. envoy cancelled out the long-standing and well-researched stance of the U.S. on Jammu and Kashmir issue. Moreover, Islamabad argued that the comments were against the principles of supremacy of international law and the UN Charter as enshrined in Washington’s official doctrine. Pakistan appealed to the U.S. side to maintain “a strict consistency” in its public statements with the status of the region. The Foreign Office also reminded and valued President Donald Trump’s previous proposal to serve as a mediator to resolve Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.