Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 7
India opted not to respond to a series of measures announced by Pakistan on Wednesday as a fallout of Parliament approving the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. Pakistan has asked India to withdraw its High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and, for now, decided not to send its new High Commissioner to take up his India posting.
Late in the evening, Pakistan ordered changes in routes by Indian flights through its airspace. India, on its part, issued a security alert at 19 airports and deployed additional security personnel apart from regular deployment at airports. Sources said the closure of one air corridor requiring a maximum of 12 minutes of diversion would not really affect airlines.
After the second meeting in a week of the National Security Committee comprising top Cabinet Ministers and Pakistan Army officers, Pakistan today suspended bilateral trade and decided to step up diplomatic outreach, including approaching the UN and UN Security Council over Kashmir.
Sources said Pakistan was off the mark in taking these measures and that Pakistan had no locus standi to interfere in what was entirely India’s internal matter.
Reacting to reports of UN-blacklisted terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s conviction, the sources said they were trying to ascertain details. “We have to know if he was really convicted and on what charges. We also have to find out the appeals process and whether he will be let off during the pendency of the appeal.”
Pakistan will also review bilateral arrangements and observe its Independence Day on August 14 in solidarity with the “brave Kashmiris and their just struggle for their right of self-determination”. India’s Independence Day on August 15 will be observed as a “Black Day”, resolved Pakistan’s National Security Committee. There is, however, no word on the fate of Kartarpur corridor.
The Pakistan PM has directed that all diplomatic channels be activated to launch a broadside against India.
Pak’s 5-pt offensive
- Downgrades diplomatic ties
- Suspends bilateral trade
- Reviews bilateral measures
- To go to UN Security Council
- Aug 14 as J&K ‘solidarity day’
Letter to President
The All-Party Action Committee, Kargil, on Wednesdaywrote to the President, seeking immediate restoration of Article 370, 35-A, describing the Centre’s decision a “coup against India’s Constitution”
Mufti asks PDP MPs to resign
- Former CM Mehbooba Mufti has asked the two PDP members to resign from the Rajya Sabha
- PDP’s Mir Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway were on Monday physically removed from the House after they tore a copy of the Constitution, expressing their anger against the government move to scrap Article 370