India reacts strongly to Pak comments on J-K situation

New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) India Tuesday reacted strongly to
comments by Pakistan on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,
terming these as "clear interference" in this country's
internal affairs and cautioned that such remarks do not help
the atmosphere for moving the bilateral talks process forward.

A day after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi described the police action in Jammu and Kashmir as
the "excessive and unwarranted use of force" against people,
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said "such
statements by leaders of a foreign country do not help the
situation" in the state.

"These statements constitute clear interference in the
internal affairs of an integral part of India," Sarna told
reporters here while referring to the remarks of Qureshi as
well as Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq on
the situation in the "Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir".

The spokesman said such statements do not contribute to
"creating the atmosphere necessary for the dialogue process
between India and Pakistan to move forward."

Sarna said the government of India as well as the state
government are taking all steps necessary to restore law and
order in this part of the country.

Qureshi Monday said Pakistan was "deeply concerned
over the deteriorating situation in (Jammu and Kashmir) which
is resulting in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri
people. We call for immediate steps to end the violence
against innocent Kashmiris."

Qureshi had said it was "important that an enabling
environment, free of violence, is created to sustain the peace
process and address the long standing dispute of Jammu and
Kashmir".

Earlier, in a separate statement, Sadiq expressed concern
at reported attacks on the life and property of Muslims in
Jammu and Kashmir and what it described as the community's
"economic blockade by extremist elements".

This is the second time in five days that India reacted
sharply to such comments emanating from Pakistan over the
situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan Senate last week passed a resolution which
expressed concern over the reported "economic blockade imposed
by Hindu extremists against the Muslims of Jammu and the
valley of Kashmir".

India dubbed it as "gross interference" in its internal
affairs and asked the Pakistani upper house of Parliament to
rather focus on issues where it has a "locus standi". PTI AKK