After getting support from the across the world, Russia has backed India on its stand on Kashmir after the scrapping of Article 370.
Russian envoy Nikolay Kudashev on Wednesday said that Russia recognises the Indian government’s decision as an internal matter.
He further added that Russia understands that it is a sovereign decision taken by the Indian government and the country respects India’s stand on the matter.
“Abrogation of Article 370 is a sovereign decision of the Indian government. It is an internal matter of India and such issues can be resolved between India and Pakistan under Simla and Lahore agreements. Our views are exactly the same as India’s,” Kudashev said.
“Russia has no role to play in India-Pakistan dispute, unless both ask for mediation. During the closed-door event at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), we reiterated that Kashmir is an internal issue of India,” Roman Babushkin, Deputy Chief of the Russian Embassy in India, said.
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Meanwhile, several countries including the US, France, UK, UAE and Sri Lanka have come out in India’s support after the government scrapped Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
However, Pakistan is strongly opposing the move and its Prime Minister Imran Khan has been threatening action against India ever since.
Earlier, Pakistan had downgraded diplomatic ties with India and approached China to oppose India’s decision at a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council. This despite India’s repeated assertion that Kashmir is its internal matter and no other country has any right to interfere.
Pakistan even went to the extent of writing a letter quoting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to highlight the “deaths” in Jammu and Kashmir. In the letter written to the UN, Pakistan’s human rights minister Shireen Mazari mentioned statements made by Rahul Gandhi regarding the ongoing situation in the Valley.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at Pakistan for instigating violence in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that all matters related to the region are India’s internal issues with no room for Pakistan’s interference.
“I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue & there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it,” he said.
There is violence in Jammu & Kashmir. There is violence because it is instigated and supported by Pakistan which is known to be the prime supporter of terrorism across the world.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2019
“I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue & there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it,” he added.