New Delhi: Pakistan is downgrading diplomatic ties with India after the Narendra Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Security Committee, summoned by Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday.
As the first step, Islamabad has issued orders asking the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to return to New Delhi, top sources told ThePrint.
The sources also said the new Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Moin ul Haque, whose appointment was approved by both sides, will not be taking charge now. He was expected to assume his post in New Delhi by the end of this month or early next month.
Pakistan believes if India is not keen on holding a dialogue with Islamabad, both high commissioners should be recalled.
1-Downgrading of diplomatic relations with India.
2-Suspension of bilateral trade with India.
3-Review of bilateral arrangements.
4-Matter to be taken to UN, including the Security Council.
5-14th of August to be observed in solidarity with brave
Kashmiris. #StandwithKashmir pic.twitter.com/v06GmMc5lG— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) August 7, 2019
Khan had summoned a second session of the National Security Committee (NSC) within days of India announcing its decisions on Jammu and Kashmir, while their President called for a joint session of the Parliament.
The committee also decided to suspend bilateral trade with India. Post the February Pulwama attacks, India had withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trade status from Pakistan.
The Imran Khan government will also raise the matter of India revoking Article 370 and 35A at the UN Security Council, the NSC decided.
“PM 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,” stated an official statement from the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office.
Also read: Pakistan says India move won’t change Kashmir’s disputed status, to counter ‘illegal’ step
Rhetoric in Pakistani parliament
At the joint session of the Pakistani parliament that was convened over Kashmir, Fawad Chaudhry, the minister for science and technology, called for suspension of all diplomatic ties with India.
The session discussed many other critical issues, including closure of Pakistani airspace and shutting down of the Wagah border.
Ali Amin Gandapur, the minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, said, “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and we will fight to the last drop of blood for Kashmir”.
Former Pakistan president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari called Kashmir “the second major incident after the separation of East Pakistan”.
Opposition parties in Pakistan have also demanded that the country should approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and convene an emergency meeting by moving the United Nations Security Council.
Also read: This is General Bajwa’s dilemma after Modi govt’s Article 370 move in Kashmir