India Dismisses Pakistan President's Kashmir Comments as 'Unwarranted'
India on Saturday rejected remarks made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding Kashmir, asserting that he has no standing to comment on the country's internal affairs. The response came from External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who termed the comments 'unwarranted' and 'absurd' in light of Pakistan's own human rights record.
'India categorically rejects the unwarranted comments made by the President of Pakistan. He has, in any case, no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India,' Jaiswal said in a statement.
The spokesperson further highlighted Pakistan's history of human rights abuses, particularly against minorities. 'These comments are particularly absurd given Pakistan's own abysmal record on human rights, which is a matter of global commentary. Pakistan's long history of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths is notorious,' he added.
Jaiswal described Zardari's remarks as a 'deliberate political attack, driven by Pakistan's national policies of bigotry and hatred.' The strong rebuttal underscores the ongoing tensions between the two neighbours over the Kashmir issue, which has been a flashpoint for decades.
India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and that no external party has any role in its internal matters. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated this position, stating that such comments only serve to distract from Pakistan's own domestic challenges.
