Pak has no locus standi in India's internal affairs: MEA

Taking strong umbrage to Pakistan declaring July 19 as “black day” to express solidarity with Kashmiri people over killing of Burhan Wani, India today asked it to desist from further interfering in its internal affairs and destabilising the situation in the region through support to terrorism and other subversive acts.

External Affairs Ministry also hit out at Pakistan for continuing to glorify terrorists belonging to proscribed terrorist organisations, saying it makes it amply clear where Pakistan’s sympathies continue to lie.

“India completely and unequivocally rejects in entirety the decisions adopted by the Cabinet of Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are dismayed at the continued attempts by Pakistan to interfere in our internal matters, where, we reiterate, Pakistan or any other external party has no locus standi,” MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today declared Wani, the slain Hizbul commander, as a “martyr” and said July 19 will be observed as black day to express solidarity with people of Kashmir. He was addressing a special cabinet meeting in Lahore to discuss the situation in the state.

“Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination,” Sharif was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.

India also asked Pakistan to desist from further interfering in its internal affairs and destabilising the situation in South Asia through support to terrorism and other subversive acts.

“The self serving actions by Pakistan in the last few days to derive political mileage out of the recent developments in J&K follow planned infiltration and terrorism aimed at India from across the Line of Control and the International Boundary.

“The attempts in Pakistan by various players to ingratiate themselves to the people of J&K in the run up to the so called elections in territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation will not succeed,” Swarup said.

India also hoped that Pakistan will respond constructively to its initiatives for peace and normalising bilateral relationship, Swarup added.