India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for organising an international seminar on Kashmir, by saying it is India that has rightful sovereignty over J&K and there is no global dimension on Kashmir.
“We completely reject the insinuations by vested interests against India which has rightful sovereignty over the entire State of J&K. We also stress that there are no global dimensions of Kashmir issue except in the minds of those who seek to needlessly internationalise a bilateral matter. Pakistan needs to vacate its illegal occupation of parts of J&K and address the suffering caused to millions in those parts,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday.
Responding to Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain’s statement in which he accused India of running away from talks despite Pakistan’s offer of joint-probe in the Pathankot terror attack and mentioning Kashmir issue as an “unfinished agenda of partition” as the main cause of regional tension, the MEA said that “it is not Kashmir, but externally sponsored terrorism from Pakistan which is the main issue of instability’ between India Pakistan relations” and interfering in India’s internal affairs.
The Indian side has been seeking positive steps from Pakistan on the recent terror attack on Pathankot airbase. India also wants a complete end to terror attack from Pak soils before sitting for talks.