Protesters clash with security personnel in Srinagar on July 14, 2016. — AFP

New Delhi, July 14

Hitting out at Pakistan for trying to internationalise the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, India today  reiterated that Kashmir was an internal matter and that Pakistan had no locus standi. India accused Pakistan of sending terrorists into its territory and fanning discontent in the Kashmir valley.At the United Nations, India’s Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said Pakistan used terrorism as a state policy towards the “misguided end of coveting the territory of others”.His strong remarks followed Pakistan’s PR Maleeha Lodhi describing Wani as a ‘Kashmiri leader’.Pakistan had summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad on Monday and raised the Kashmir issue.Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup today said the Indian envoy told Pakistan that Kashmir was India’s internal matter and that India had rejected the demarche issued in the matter.“Terrorism is terrorism and no amount of justification on part of Pakistan is going to change that,” Swarup said. Dismissing reports that India planned to summon Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, he said this being an internal matter, India saw no reason to involve Pakistan.  On a dialogue with Pakistan, he reaffirmed that India never shied away from talks. However, he said it was incumbent upon Pakistan to create the right atmosphere as “talks and terror cannot go hand in hand”.  — TNS

Bilawal calls up Mirwaiz, vows support

• Srinagar: Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto called up Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday and expressed ‘solidarity’ with the Kashmiris, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference said. “Spoke to @MirwaizKashmir & expressed condolences, condemnation & solidarity withpeople of #Kashmir,” Bilawal wrote on his twitter handle. TNS