United Nations, Oct 1 (IANS) Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday took umbrage at Pakistan making an “unwarranted” bid to raise the issue at the United Nations.
“An unwarranted reference has been made to Jammu and Kashmir from this podium,” Krishna said in an address at the UN General Assembly referring to President Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks at the world forum last week.
“Our principled position on the issue has been consistent and is well known,” he said asserting: “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have chosen and reaffirmed their destiny repeatedly through India’s well established democratic processes.”
“We wish to make it abundantly clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.”
Noting that India has “embarked on a resumed dialogue process with Pakistan and advocate a step-by-step approach to normalizing our bilateral relations,” Krishna said “India desires constructive and friendly relations with all its neighbours.”
In his address to the UN General Assembly last week Zardari had said the Kashmir issue was a “symbol of the failures, rather than strengths of the UN system” of the UN, and a resolution could only be arrived in an “environment of cooperation”.
Turning to India’s neighbourhood, Krishna said: “We have a vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous region with enhanced cooperation and connectivity linking us with Central Asia, the Gulf and South-East Asia.”
“Within South Asia, we have sought to enhance bilateral relations individually with each of our neighbours and through the aegis of the SAARC,” Krishna added.
