India on Friday dismissed Pakistan’s protest over US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s remarks that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, saying there was “no reason” to comment on Islamabad’s frustration.
“I see no reason to comment on Pakistan’s frustration,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.
Gor made the remarks during a visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, describing the Union Territory as an important part of India.
Hours later, Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche” over Gor’s remarks. Gor is also the Trump administration’s Special Envoy to South and Central Asia.
“Pakistan strongly condemned and categorically rejected the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘part of India’,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.
India reiterates stand on J&K, Ladakh
Responding to Pakistan’s protest, Jaiswal reiterated that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “are, and will always remain, an integral and inalienable part of India”.
His remarks came after Islamabad objected to Gor’s comments and summoned the top US diplomat in Pakistan to register its protest.
MEA defends action outside Pakistan High Commission
Jaiswal also defended India’s recent removal of temporary structures outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, saying the move followed Pakistan’s removal of parking poles outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
“Certain structures there (outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad) were removed, despite our request. Once it happened, we took what could be described as a proportional action — we removed some temporary structures located in the lane outside the Pakistani High Commission here (in Delhi),” Jaiswal said.
Pakistani authorities had earlier removed security barricades and parking poles outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Indian agencies subsequently demolished unauthorised temporary structures outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
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