Congress lashes out at Pakistan for statement on Jammu and Kashmir

Terming as "absurd" Pakistan's statement that India should stop treating Jammu and Kashmir as its integral part, the Congress today said the neighbouring country has a big role in the problems that have arisen in the state.

"From 1947 to 2010, India has tried to strengthen democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. Problems have arisen there but Pakistan has a big role (in that). India has tried to find a solution in is constitutional framework," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters in New Delhi.

He said  that 79 out of 124 districts in Pakistan have been affected by recent floods and the party's sympathies are with the people of Pakistan.

"Even in such trying circumstances, the rulers of Pakistan are trying to interfere in the internal affairs of the country," Tewari said, dubbing the statement of the Pakistan Foreign office as "absurd".

The spokesperson said that on October 26, 1947, maharaja Hari Singh acceded the entire Jammu and Kashmir to India saying Pakistan had illeglly occupied some of the areas.

He said Pakistan illegally gave the northern areas which constitute one-third of the state to China on March 2, 1963 and reports indicate that there is a build up of Chinese troops there.

Tewari said that there was no restriction on the movement of Indian or foreign journalists in Jammu and Kashmir but the situation is entirely different in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"There is neither democracy, nor human rights or permission to foreign journalists to visit there (in PoK)," the spokesperson said.

Asking Pakistan to demonstrate if democracy prevailed in PoK, Tewari asked Pakistan to allow foreign journalists there.

He also advised organisations like the Hurriyat to think about the Kashmiris on the other side (in PoK) who have been "reeling under repression for the last 62 years".

Yesterday, Pakistan said there can be no result-oriented discussions with India on Kashmir unless New Delhi stops treating it as the country's integral part and seeking a solution within the ambit of the Indian Constitution.

"Unless India takes a fresh look at its Kashmir policy, does some introspection and stops treating Jammu and Kashmir as its integral part and stops harping on seeking a solution within the Indian Constitution, we do not believe that we can really have any meaningful or result-oriented discussions with India on this (issue)," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said.