India rejects “gratuitous” Pak statements on Kashmir

New Delhi : India on Friday slammed Pakistan for what it called its “gratuitous statement” on Kashmir and said the neighbor was interfering in its internal affairs.

“?India firmly rejects gratuitous statements issued by Pakistan on Jammu & Kashmir, which amount to interference in the internal affairs of India.,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement Friday night.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a statement earlier condemned the ?brutality? and ?blatant use of force? against Kashmiris in India and said ?the killing of the innocent Kashmiris, continued arrests and detention of the Kashmiri leaders are unacceptable.?

In response to a question regarding the statement on Jammu & Kashmir by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, the official spokesperson of India’s external affairs ministry said: ?Pakistan should take credible and effective action against infiltration from across the Line of Control and dismantle the terror infrastructure that exists in the territory under its control.

“This would be an important contribution towards safeguarding the welfare of the people of J&K, who suffer the consequences of terrorism fomented from across the Line of Control and the International Border.”

“As a vibrant democracy, India has sufficient mechanisms and constitutional safeguards to address issues raised by its citizens in any part of the country,” the statement said.

India reiterated its commitment to resolving issues of mutual concern with Pakistan through dialogue and peaceful means.

“However, Pakistan must fulfill its solemn commitment of not allowing territory under its control to be used for terrorism directed against India in any manner. This would be in the interest of Pakistan and of the international community,” the MEA statement said.
Kashmir is once again roiled by unrest with 91 people dying in various street violence and police firing since the middle of June.

The entire Kashmir Valley is under curfew for the past five days while in the past week the valley was singed by violence over alleged desecration of Quran in USA, adding fuel to the anti-India protests led by the separatist leaders.