Staff Reporter / New Delhi
New Delhi has asked Pakistan to reconsider its unilateral decision to downgrading diplomatic ties with India.
Briefing media External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar said, it is high time for Pakistan to accept reality and stop interfering in internal affairs of other countries.
He said that Islamabad is nervous over New Delhi’s decision to revoke special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and it is trying to present an alarming picture of bilateral relationship which is not there.
He said India has urged the neighbouring country to reconsider its decision. Mr Kumar asserted that Pakistan’s efforts to link peace deal with Kashmir issue have not worked. He said India has briefed other nations about its decision on Jammu and Kashmir. The Spokesperson also clarified that Pakistani airspace is not closed, only rerouting has been done and airspace is operational.
He said, Pakistan thinks it will not be able to mislead people if there is development in that region. He said, steps have been taken keeping in mind the best interests of Jammu and Kashmir. The Spokesperson said, Pakistan’s decision to downgrade diplomatic relations and suspend the Samjhauta Express is a unilateral move.
Pakistan continued its unilateral actions on Friday to protest Indian Parliament’s removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by announcing to halt the last train service to India, named Thar Express, a day after it had announced suspension of Samjhauta Express service between Lahore and Delhi.
“We have decided to shut down the Thar Express as well,” Pakistan’s railways minister Sheikh Rashid told reporters, in reference to the weekly service running between the towns of Khokrapar in Pakistan and Munabao in Barmer, India.
“As long as I am railways minister, no train will operate between Pakistan and India.” Rashid added.
Rashid Ahmed had on Thursday announced the discontinuation of Samjhauta Express– a bi-weekly train service started in 1976. “We have decided to shut down Samjhauta Express… As long as I am railways minister, Samjhauta Express can’t run,” he had said.