Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursdaydirectly accused Pakistan of using propaganda to internationalise the Kashmir issue, and reiterated that Islamabad is directly responsible for terrorism in the Kashmir Valley.
Addressing media in New Delhi, Naidu said, "Pakistan wants to internationalise the Kashmir issue by launching propaganda against India.
He was responding to a statement made by Sartaj Aziz, the Adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, wherein, he described slain Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani "as an icon of the resistance movement in Kashmir."
He also took umbrage over Aziz saying that New Delhi is practicing "state-sponsored terrorism" to suppress the voices of Kashmiris and to deny them their right to self-determination.
Aziz had earlier in the day said that the Government of Pakistan has provided and will continue to provide diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their fundamental right to self determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
He also made a mention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statement on the developments on the Indian side of Kashmir and the fact that Pakistan had lodged its protests with the Indian High Commissioner on the situation prevailing across the border.
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He said that Pakistan has written letters to the UN Secretary General, President of the Security Council, OIC Secretary General, High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Foreign Ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Niger, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) on the recent situation in Kashmir and has called upon the international community to take appropriate steps to fulfill its commitments towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the UNSC resolutions.
On Thursday, replying to a discussion on the volatile situation in the Kashmir Valley, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh squarely blamed Pakistan for the unrest.
He said, "The neighbouring country instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilize India."
He also criticized Islamabad for observing a "Black Day" in honour of Wani, saying, "The terrorist was involved in many and various heinous crimes and activities."
Home Minister Singh appealed to the House to make a united effort to restore peace in Kashmir and was hopeful about the NDA Government achieving this objective sooner than later. He said that the situation in the valley is gradually returning to normal with the supply of essential commodities to curfew bound areas.
He said that the loss of 38 lives was a tragedy that must not be repeated.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in response to a query on observance of "Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day" (July 19) and 'Black Day' (July 20) in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), has strongly condemned what it called Pakistan's attempts to encourage terrorists and their activities.
In his statement, Official Spokesperson said: "We have seen reports about rallies, events and statements related to Jammu & Kashmir in Pakistan and POK over the last two days. We have also noted that the events were led by UN-designated terrorists, who had in the past protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan. India strongly condemns the encouragement and support which such terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan's state. We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner."
He further stated, "The observance of "Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day" exposes Pakistan's longing for the territory of Jammu & Kashmir. India demands that Pakistan must fulfill the obligation to vacate its illegal occupation of POK. It must also stop misleading the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises such as the so-called elections today in POK which Pakistan ironically calls 'Azad' (free)."
The spokesman said, "In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the Government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan.