NEW DELHI: Indian external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has said that Kashmir is an integral part of India and it will be a waste of time to question New Delhi’s claim over the troubled region.
In an interview to Indian media, Khurshid said “There is no way in which India will accept any intervention on an issue that is entirely accepted in the Simla Agreement as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.”
His remarks came following media reports on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement in which the latter demanded of the US to play its role for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Kashmir was an integral part of India and no-one should raise a question on that. It is a waste of time for anybody no matter how eminent to be even trying to question it,” Khurshid said.
The Indian external affairs minister voiced concern over ceasefire violations at the Line of Control and hoped these do not result in any more casualties. He, however, rejected suggestions that these have led to a collapse of the truce between the two neighbours.
Khurshid also said that any US economic aid to Pakistan must not be used in a manner that is detrimental to India’s security and strategic interests and hoped that Washington will keep that in mind as a “good strategic partner”.
