Even as the member countries of the United Nations Security Council discussed India's recent move on Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi on Friday reiterated that issue related to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was entirely an internal matter of the country.
Syed Akbaruddin, India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council, said the decision taken by New Delhi had no external ramifications.
India on August 5 revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
“The recent decisions taken by the government of India and our legislative bodies are intended to ensure that good governance is promoted and social economic development is enhanced for our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” Akbaruddin said.
His statement came soon after the 'closed door meeting' of the security council to discuss India's decision on Jammu and Kashmir concluded. The UNSC met on Friday after Pakistan, backed by its all-weather ally, China, requested "closed consultations" on the issue.
Akbaruddin said New Delhi was committed to gradually removing all restrictions imposed in Kashmir Valley.
“Since the change is internal to India, we have not made any difference to our external orientation,” he said in the wake of China raising concerns over Ladakh being declared as a Union territory.
India remains committed to ensure that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains calm and peaceful, he said.
In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Akbaruddin said: “We note that there were some who tried to project an alarmist approach to the situation which is far from the ground realities.”
Reacting to India's decision on Kashmir, Pakistan had expelled the Indian High Commissioner soon after deciding to downgrade diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
