Reacting to series of measures taken by Pakistan in response to the Indian government’s decision to fully integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India, India has categorically stated that Pakistan should accept the reality and stop interfering in internal affairs of India. After Pakistan had announced that it will permanently discontinue Samjhauta Express train and Thar Express services, after announcing that it is downgrading diplomatic ties and suspending trade relations with India, the Indian government has hit back stating that the decision by Pakistan is unilateral as it never consulted the Indian government.
Speaking to the media on the steps taken by Pakistan in response to abrogation of Article 370 by India, Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said that the actions taken by Pakistan were unilateral. He added that the decision was made by Pakistan without consulting the Indian government.
“We’ve urged them to reconsider their decision. Our sense is that whatever is being done by Pak is to present an alarming picture of the bilateral relationship,” said Raveesh Kumar.
Spooked by India’s audacious move of abrogating the provisions of Article 370 and bifurcating the state into two union territories, Pakistan had rushed into taking a series of ineffectual decisions to protest against India’s decision. After snapping bilateral trade and downgrading diplomatic ties with India, Pakistan had announced that it will permanently discontinue Samjhauta Express train services.
On Friday, Pakistan Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad announced that Thar Express services travelling from Jodhpur to Karachi will be stopped.
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The MEA spokesperson also said that it is difficult for India to comment on Pakistan’s decision to downgrade diplomatic ties and suspend trade and train services with India, as Pakistan took the decisions unilaterally. He said that the Indian government hopes that Pakistan will reconsider its decision, but he is unable to speculate on the future of the same.
Raveesh Kumar further added that it is time for Pakistan to accept the reality and stop interfering in internal affairs of other countries.
He further clarified that Pakistani airspace is not closed but only re-routing has been done, airspace is operational. There were reports that Pakistan had closed down a couple of routes for Indian flights following its decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with India in response to New Delhi’s move to revoke special status of Kashmir.
Later, Pakistan clarified that it has neither closed its airspace for India nor re-routed any route for the Indian flights.