India has downplayed the “Million March” being organised by Pakistan group to highlight Kashmir issue in london on Sunday. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said India was a country of more than a billion, hence, “millions don’t overawe” it. He added that between India and Pakistan there was no space for third parties and it is now for Pakistan to create conducive atmosphere for talks.
On the anti-India rally, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had expressed concerns to Deputy Prime Minister of Britain Nick Clegg during her visit to london last week. The United Kingdom has maintained that Kashmir issue was to be resolved only by India and Pakistan and India was assured its soil will not be allowed to be used for anti-India activities.
While appreciating UK’s stand Akbaruddin said with this reassurance the Indian Government was comfortable of any march being organised. “Now it is possible that forces inimical to India-UK relations may utilise opportunities of this sort and it was in this context that we discussued with UK and we were reassured repeatedly that the UK’s view is very clear and that it is for India and Pakistan to resolve any issue that they have by themselves,” Akbaruddin said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution against the alleged ceasefire violations by India and seeking United Nations intervention to resolve the Kashmir issue. Akbaruddin said these kinds of activities were aimed at the domestic audience and that India opposed the option of involvement of any third party on the matter.
“Resolutions passed by Parliaments are internalisation processes. This is for that country to take a view on. But we have objections to internationalising the issue and we have given our views on that that we do not see any option of any third party be involved in this. Therefore, as far as internationalisation is concerned, we are against it,” Akbaruddin said.
India has expressed it was ready for talks with Pakistan under the provisions of Shimla Agreement and lahore Declaration but before that Pakistan needs to create an atmosphere conducive for talks. “Our view is that it is for Pakistan to enter into a situation where we can have an atmosphere conducive for talks. We are ready for a bilateral dialogue under the Shimla Agreement and the lahore Declaration. But that requires an atmosphere which is conducive for talks. The ball, therefore, is in Pakistan’s court,” said Akbaruddin.