Updated on
Summary S M Krishna has said President Zardaris remarks about Kashmir at the UN were unwarranted.
Indias External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Monday conveyed New Delhi’s strong protest against Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s “unwarranted reference” to Jammu and Kashmir while addressing the UN General Assembly session (UNGA) in New York.“An unwarranted reference has been made to Jammu and Kashmir from this podium. Our principled position on the issue has been consistent and is well known,” he said in his speech at the general debate for the 67th UNGA.Reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, Krishna said the people of the state had “chosen and reaffirmed their destiny repeatedly through India’s well-established democratic processes”.On the other side, while strongly reacting over Krishnas reference to Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan has said that Jammu and Kashmir had never been an integral part of the country and said President Asif Ali Zardaris statement on the issue was not unwarranted.Pakistans Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Raza Bashir Tarar said it was exercising its Right of Reply regarding the remarks made by the minister that an unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir was made at the United Nations.Earlier last week, Zardari had described Kashmir as one the symbols of the UN system’s failure during his speech to the world body.
