India asks Pakistan to focus on combating terrorism, not Kashmir

United Nations, Nov 3: Objecting to Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at a UN panel on humanitarian issues, India has asked Islamabad to take credible action against terrorists and their support base to create conditions for meaningful dialogue.

"Pakistan would be well advised to concentrate its focus on combating terrorism and not allowing the use of its territory by terrorists and their infrastructure," Indian delegate B.K. Hariprasad said at a special session of the panel Monday.

"Pakistan has already been advised that they should take credible action against terrorists and their support base," he said, regretting the "unacceptable reference" to Kashmir in the debate on self-determination by the Pakistani delegation.

"This is necessary to create conditions for meaningful dialogue," Hariprasad, a Congress member of parliament, said.

"We regret the unacceptable reference made by the delegation of Pakistan to the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir," he said adding, "I would like to reiterate that the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and its people regularly participate in free, fair and open elections."

Earlier, Pakistan's acting permanent representative to the UN Amjad Hussain alleged the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been denied the "right to exercise the right of self-determination."

Pakistan, he said, remains committed to the composite dialogue process with India, and that a peaceful resolution of that dispute was imperative for durable peace, stability and progress in South Asia.

--IANS