India reacts strongly to Pak comments on J-K polls

New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) India Friday reacted sharply to certain comments by Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir polls, saying it indicates Islamabad is not interested in playing a "responsible role" in the region which it should in its "own interest".

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash termed
as "most unfortunate" the comments by Pakistan Foreign Office
spokesman Muhammad Sadiq that polls in Jammu and Kashmir do
not reflect "authentic" expression of aspirations of the
people of the state.

"We strongly object to these remarks. It is in Pakistan's
own interest to play a responsible role in the region.
Comments such as these hardly suggest that it is prepared to
do so," Prakash said.

His reaction came a day after Sadiq said that "the
ongoing elections (in Jammu and Kashmir) cannot be construed
as authentic expression of the real aspirations of the
Kashmiri people."

Seven-phase elections are underway in Jammu and Kashmir
amid tight security to thwart any attempt by militants to
disrupt the polling process which is boycotted by separatists.

In the first phase on November 17, electorate turned up
in large numbers braving freezing temperatures and ignoring
separatists' boycott call and recorded a turnout of 55 per
cent.

New Delhi sees the Pakistani reaction to the successful
conduct of first phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir a
reflection of frustration in Islamabad.

The big turnout of electorate despite separatists'
campaign against the polls made it clear "nobody is listening"
to Hurriyat, sources said here.

The Centre sees the defiance of the separatists by the
electorate a result of the fatigue among the people of Jammu
and Kashmir with regard to Pakistan's machinations in the
state. PTI