In response to the Indian government’s move to revoke the special status given to the state of Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan has decided to downgrade its diplomatic ties with India.
On Wednesday, 7th August, Pakistan announced that it will expel Indian High Commissioner, Ajay Bisaria and also cut all trade ties with India.
According to reports, it also closed a corridor of its airspace. And latest reports suggest that Pakistan has also suspended the services of Samjhauta Express.
Pursuant to the decision of the National Security Committee today, the Government of India has been told to withdraw its High Commissioner to Pakistan.The Indian Government has also been informed that Pakistan will not be sending its High Commissioner-designate to India(07.08.19) pic.twitter.com/eEndyazugK
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 7, 2019
The announcement came after PM Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee of Pakistan. Their statement termed this move “unilateral and illegal”.
“Our ambassadors will no longer be in New Delhi and their counterparts here will also be sent back.”
PM Imran Khan today chaired meeting of the National Security Committee at PM’s Office.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 7, 2019
Prime Minister directed that all diplomatic channels be activated to expose brutal Indian racist regime, design and human rights violations. PM directed Armed Forces to continue vigilance. pic.twitter.com/CKlB6VYuuO
A day after this, Ministry of External Affairs of India has responded to the situation. Its statement read:
“The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India. The Constitution of India was, is and will always be a sovereign matter.”
Ministry of External Affairs: We have seen reports that Pakistan has decided to take certain unilateral actions in respect to its bilateral relations with India. This includes the downgrading of our diplomatic relations. pic.twitter.com/ExVvAeC2ea
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2019
MEA: The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India. The Constitution of India was, is and will always be a sovereign matter. Seeking to interfere in that jurisdiction by invoking an alarmist vision of the region will never succeed. https://t.co/VRvMayP5N5
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2019
#PakUnderPressure — Recent decisions by the govt and Parliament of India are driven by a commitment to extend to J&K opportunities for development that were earlier denied by a temporary provision in the Constitution: MEA Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) pic.twitter.com/HiqxFUHour
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 8, 2019
The Foreign Ministry has also urged Pakistan to review its decision so that normal diplomatic relations can be maintained between the two nations.
