The Indian condemned some of the United Kingdom parliamentarians who participated in a debate on Kashmir in the Houses of Parliament complex in London, saying they relied on “false assertions” and unsubstantiated allegations propagated by a “third country” – an apparent reference to Pakistan.
"Regarding the reference to 'Kashmir'' in the title: the need is felt to differentiate between the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (when the erstwhile princely state of Kashmir legally acceded to India in October 1947, this part was forcibly and illegally occupied by Pakistan)," the High Commission said in a statement.
The statement asserted that while it was not the policy of India to take "undue interest" in the internal discussions within a foreign Parliament, the High Commission of India continues to engage with all concerned – including the UK government and parliamentarians – to avoid "misperceptions and misinformation" by making authentic information about India available to all.
The UK government also reiterated its unchanged stance that the situation in Kashmir remains an issue for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the issue.
Responding to a debate held in the House of Parliament complex on the "Political situation in Kashmir", Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) minister Nigel Adams stressed that it is not for Britain to play any mediatory role in a bilateral matter.
"The government's policy [on Kashmir] remains stable, it's unchanged. We continue to believe that this is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation that takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people… as laid out in the Simla Agreement," said Adams, in his capacity as Minister for Asia.
The debate, organised by backbench members of Parliament led by Labour's Sarah Owen, included the participation of cross-party British MPs, many of whom have a large Kashmiri diaspora constituency base.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.
