New Delhi: Unhappy with New Delhi's decision of abrogating Articles 370 and 35 A in the state of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, the Pakistani Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Indian high commissioner to the country and expressed a strong protest.
"The Foreign Secretary summoned the Indian High Commissioner to the Foreign Office and conveyed a strong demarche on the announcements made and actions were taken by the Government of India with regard to Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Monday," Sputnik quoted the Ministry of External Affairs' statement as saying.
On Monday, India suspended via a presidential decree Article 370 of the country's constitution, which granted Jammu and Kashmir a special status, turning the disputed region into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir with an own legislature, and Ladakh without a legislature. However, the legislative bill on removing the article has yet to be approved by India's parliament.
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According to Pakistani foreign secretary, the decision violated the international law and several resolutions of the UN Security Council.
The Pakistani foreign secretary called on India to refrain from further destabilizing activities in Jammu and Kashmir as well as reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to providing the Kashmiri people with political, diplomatic and moral support.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan had said that it would "exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps" taken by India regarding Kashmir.
In a statement, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) strongly condemned and rejected the move by the Indian government, stressing that Kashmir was internationally recognized as a disputed territory.
"No unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
"The decision will never be acceptable to the people of Kashmir and Pakistan."
"As the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps," The Dawn reported, quoting a statement by the Pakistan FO.