India explained that proposals under consideration in front of the Parliament on the administrative reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir and Article 370 is a matter internal to India and aimed at providing good governance and ensuring economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Monday briefed envoys of all United Nations security council (UNSC) envoys--permanent and non-permanent members on India's decision to remove the special status under article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir.
India explained that proposals under consideration in front of the Parliament on the administrative reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir and Article 370 is a matter internal to India and aimed at providing good governance and ensuring economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.
The MEA officials told envoys that it will increase administrative efficiency and promoting social justice. A govt source said that the briefing was done due to the interest expressed by members of the diplomatic community in Delhi on the proposals introduced by govt in the Parliament on J&K.
Other than the Permanent five of UNSC--China, Russia, US, Britain and France, the non-permanent members include Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic,
Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, and South Africa.
This is significant, given the fact that Pakistan may try to approach UNSC on abrogation of Article 370 and try to internationalise the issue.
Other than UNSC envoy, envoy of blocs such as ASEAN was also briefed. UNSC envoys and ASEAN group were briefed by Secretary east Vijay Thakur Singh. Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries, or GRULAC envoys will be briefed on Tuesday.
Former envoys rebuff Pak's threat
Former Indian envoys have welcomed the move and said Pakistan's attempts to raise the removal of article 370 at International forums will not find any traction.
Sharat Sabharwal, India's former Indian envoy to Pakistan said, "I dont see any serious international implications. Pakistan might try to raise at the UN but I don't see much traction there. Pakistan has unilaterally altered the status of POK and demography of J&K under its illegal occupation"
Lauding Modi government's decision, Ashok Sajjanhar India's Former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan said, "Pakistan is likely to raise this issue more forcefully and vigorously in the international fora. We will need to proactively counter it's arguments. It is understood that we had taken the P-5 countries into confidence before action was taken. Pakistan's arguments will perhaps not find much traction with its staunch friend China or even Russia."
Adding, "We will need to be particularly vigilant about countries in West Asia like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Egypt etc with all of which, we have significantly improved our relations in recent years."
Gautam Bambawale, India's envoy China said, while, "The Government is prepared for such fallout and our diplomacy is astute enough to be able to handle such efforts” and "scrapping of Article 370 is a domestic decision of India, we should expect protests from Pakistan. It will also accelerate its efforts to internationalize the Kashmir issue. "
Explaining that article 370 is a temporary arrangement, Anil Trigunayat, former envoy to Libya said its removal will not have any "repercussions since the proposed Gazette notification will lead to the overall development of the respective union territories in the erstwhile state of J&K. What remains is to settle the territories occupied by Pakistan and China. It is a domestic governance matter of India".
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