India responds to Pakistan downgrading diplomatic ties with India, says decision on Article 370 entirely internal matter of India

A day after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India along with suspending trade relations, External Affairs Ministry of India has released a statement saying the government of India regrets the unilateral steps taken by Pakistan.

India says that the intention behind the steps taken by Pakistan is to present an alarming picture of India-Pakistan ties to the world, but the reasons cited by Pakistan are not supported by facts. The statement says the recent decisions of the Indian government and parliament are aimed at extending development opportunities to Jammu and Kashmir, which were earlier denied due to a temporary provision in the Indian Constitution. Removal of those provisions will also result in the elimination of gender and socio-economic discrimination in the state.

India has reiterated that the decisions regarding Article 370 are entirely internal matters of India, and the constitution of India is a sovereign matter of the nation. Seeking to interfere in that jurisdiction by invoking an alarmist vision of the region will never succeed, the statement says.

The MEA has said that government of India regrets the decisions of Pakistan, and urges the country to review them so normal diplomatic ties are maintained.

The full statement issued by MEA is given below:

On August 7, Pakistan had announced several reactionary steps after Article 370 was abrogated by India. After a meeting of National Security Council Headed by prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan had decided to downgrade diplomatic relations, suspension of bilateral trade, review of bilateral arrangements, taking the matter to UN including the security council. They have also decided to observe 14^th August in solidarity with Kashmiris, and 15^th August as black day.