Article 370 Not An Issue With Pakistan, But Its Open Support To Terrorism, Says EAM Jaishankar

Amid a raging debate between India and Pakistan over the abrogation of Article 370, stripping special status to Jammu and Kashmir, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday clarified that the presidential order incorporated in India's constitution in 1954 has never been an issue with the neighbouring country, but its open support to terrorism. Addressing his first press conference after assuming the office in the Modi 2.0 government in May, Jaishankar, while presenting the ministry's work in the first 100 days, said, "With regard to Pakistan, issue is not Article 370 but Pakistan's terrorists.

"We must make the world realise. I always ask other people show me anywhere else in the world where any country conducts terrorism openly against its neighbor as part of what it considers its foreign policy," the diplomat-turned-politician added. In the wake of this heightened tension, Jaishankar said he also met Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of UNGA.

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EAM: With regard to Pak,issue is not Art370 but Pakistan’s terrorists. We must make the world realise.I always ask other people show me anywhere else in the world where any country conducts terrorism openly against its neighbor as part of what it considers its foreign policy. pic.twitter.com/UBu7rMIsuE

— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2019

In a historical move, that will have far-reaching impact on the political corridor of India, the government on August 5 revoked the Article 370 of the Constitution and decided to bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakah. Ever since then Pakistan has ramped up its rhetoric against New Delhi and is endlessly trying to internationalise the strictly internal Indian matter of Jammu and Kashmir. However, so far, Islamabad's panic calls have failed to mark its way to the international community.

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On Pakistan's all-out campaign against New Delhi over the Kashmir issue, the external affairs minister said Indian voice is now heard much more on global stage, be it at G20 summit or at climate conferences. Jaishankar added India's narrative on issues like cross-border terrorism and abrogation of Article 370 has been articulated to global audience.

In an obvious reference to Pakistan, Jaishankar said India has a "unique challenge" from one neighbour and that would remain a challenge so until that neighbour becomes a normal neighbour and acts against cross-border terrorism".