India demands Pakistan vacate its “illegally occupied” territory, condemns Pakistan’s “false” claims on Kashmir, says MEA.

In a strong diplomatic response, India has called on Pakistan to vacate what it describes as “illegally occupied” territories in Kashmir, condemning Pakistan’s “false” claims over the region. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, rejecting Pakistan’s assertions on Kashmir and reiterating India’s firm stance on its sovereignty over the entire Jammu and Kashmir region. This latest exchange of sharp rhetoric between the two nuclear-armed neighbors comes amidst continuing tensions over the Kashmir issue, which has been a longstanding source of conflict between India and Pakistan.

India’s Strong Rejection of Pakistan’s Claims

The MEA’s statement was a direct rebuttal to recent remarks made by Pakistan’s officials, who reiterated their claims over the Kashmir region, particularly after the Indian government’s move to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in August 2019. The revocation led to the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, transforming it from a state into two Union Territories under direct central government control. This move angered Pakistan, which considers the region disputed and claims the entire Jammu and Kashmir area as its own.

India, however, maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and that any actions taken by the Indian government regarding the region are entirely within its sovereign rights. The MEA emphasized that Pakistan’s claims on Kashmir are baseless and have no legal standing, urging the neighboring country to respect international law and refrain from spreading misinformation.

“The territory that Pakistan occupies in Jammu and Kashmir is illegally held. It is Pakistan that should vacate the territories under its illegal occupation,” the MEA statement read. This marks the latest in a series of diplomatic responses aimed at countering Pakistan’s efforts to internationalize the Kashmir dispute, which India maintains is an internal matter.

Background of the Kashmir Dispute

The Kashmir dispute dates back to 1947 when British India was partitioned into two nations—India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir, which had a Muslim-majority population, became a focal point of the dispute when its Maharaja chose to accede to India in the face of an invasion by tribal forces backed by Pakistan. This led to the first war between India and Pakistan, resulting in a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations in 1948, and the region was divided into two parts: the territory administered by India and the territory administered by Pakistan.

Since then, both nations have laid claim to the entire region, and multiple wars and skirmishes have been fought over it, with no resolution in sight. Despite several rounds of talks and peace initiatives over the decades, the issue remains unresolved, and Pakistan continues to call for a plebiscite in Kashmir, which India vehemently opposes.

The Impact of Article 370 Revocation

The revocation of Article 370 by India was a significant and controversial move. The article had granted Jammu and Kashmir a special status within India, allowing the region to have its own constitution and autonomy in most matters except defense, communications, finance, and foreign affairs. Following its abrogation, the region’s autonomy was stripped away, and Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Pakistan condemned the move, claiming it violated international agreements and United Nations resolutions, which call for a plebiscite in Kashmir to determine the region’s future. In response, India reiterated that its actions were constitutional and that the matter was entirely internal. The Indian government also argued that the special status had allowed terrorism and militancy to flourish in the region and that the revocation would lead to better governance, development, and integration of the region with the rest of India.

The move also had significant international implications, with the United States, European Union, and other countries expressing concerns over the human rights situation in Kashmir. However, India has remained steadfast in defending its sovereignty and has rejected any foreign intervention in the matter.

Pakistan’s Continued “False” Claims

Pakistan’s reaction to the revocation of Article 370 has been to continue making international appeals to raise awareness of the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has regularly brought up the Kashmir dispute at the United Nations and other international platforms, alleging that India’s actions in the region are a violation of international law. However, India has consistently rejected Pakistan’s claims, emphasizing that the situation in Kashmir is an internal matter that should not be subject to foreign interference.

In its most recent statement, the MEA criticized Pakistan for spreading “false propaganda” and misleading the international community about the status of Kashmir. “Pakistan’s efforts to internationalize the Kashmir issue are rooted in falsehoods and misinformation. India is firmly committed to its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the MEA added. The statement also called on Pakistan to cease supporting terrorism and cross-border violence, which has exacerbated the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Stalemate in Diplomatic Relations

Despite multiple rounds of talks over the years, relations between India and Pakistan remain tense, especially regarding Kashmir. Both countries maintain a heavy military presence along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing the Indian and Pakistani-administered parts of Kashmir, and clashes along this border are frequent. Efforts to resolve the dispute diplomatically have so far yielded limited success, and both sides remain entrenched in their positions.

India’s stance on Kashmir is unlikely to change, and the government has made it clear that it will not entertain any external mediation on the issue. Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to highlight the situation at international forums, hoping for greater international support in its claims over the region.

Conclusion

The latest exchange between India and Pakistan underscores the continued volatility of the Kashmir issue, which remains one of the most intractable territorial disputes in the world. India’s firm rejection of Pakistan’s claims and its call for Pakistan to vacate the territories under its control reinforce the country’s position that Kashmir is an integral part of India. As tensions persist, the prospects for a peaceful resolution remain uncertain, with both nations seemingly locked in a diplomatic stalemate.