Krishna slams Qureshi over his Kashmir remarks at UN General Assembly

NEW YORK - External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has slammed his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi over his statement on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Describing his comments as “unacceptable” and “untenable” besides being a ploy to divert attention from the internal turmoil that Pakistan was facing, Krishna said: “”It is with a sense of genuine disappointment that I react to the unacceptable references to Jammu and Kashmir made by Foreign Minister Qureshi.

“Pakistan is a country that has enormous internal challenges confronting it, such unsolicited remarks cannot divert attention from the internal problems they are having,” he added.

He said: “India is a vibrant, mature and thriving democracy. Our democratic institutions guarantee fundamental rights to all our citizens under our Constitution, including to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“The only path, as our Prime Minister has said, for lasting peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir is that of dialogue and discussion,” he added.

Saying that meaningful dialogue can happen only in an atmosphere free of violence and confrontation, Krishna said: “We are ready for dialogue with anybody or any group that does not espouse or practice violence.”

Speaking at the UNGA, Qureshi had said: “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is about the exercise of the right to self-determination by the Kashmiri people through a free, fair and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.”

“Pakistan views the prevailing situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir with grave concern,” he added. (ANI)