A day after China proposed to play a ‘constructive role’ in improving ties between India and Pakistan, New Delhi rejected the mediation offer.
India on Thursday claimed that that cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir was at the "heart" of the matter which was a threat to regional peace and insisted that the Kashmir issue was a bilateral matter between it and Pakistan.
"At the heart of the matter is really the issue of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India including on the people of the state of J&K. So, the matter is that cross-borderterrorism in our region emanating from a particular source isthreatening peace and stability in not only India but otherneighbours," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay told reporters.
As far as the Kashmir issue itself is concerned, the government's position has been very consistent and clear, he asserted. "We have been ready to have dialogue with Pakistan amongother issues (including) J&K in a bilateral framework. That position of addressing all issues with Pakistan including the Kashmir issue in a bilateral framework has not changed," Baglay said.
He also strongly rejected allegations by Pakistan that India was using chemical weapons in Kashmir, saying India is against the use of chemical weapon anywhere by anyone in any situation. Baglay hit out at the Pakistan government for "reading"from Lashkar-e-Taiba's terror script in glorifying Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, who was killed by security forces in July in 2016.
With PTI inputs
/newsnation-english/media/agency_attachments/2024-07-23t155806234z-logo-webp.webp){kind=logo}
Follow Us/newsnation-english/media/post_attachments/images/2017/07/13/374093601-baglay.jpg)