Pakistan is stunned by the flurry of early conduct of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said his country will oppose any move by India to partition Kashmir and change its demography. Qureshi's statement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited 14 politicians from Jammu and Kashmir for a meeting on June 24. The assembly will decide the blueprint for elections of this newly formed union territory. According to the Pakistani Foreign Office, Qureshi said that India should refrain from taking any further steps in Kashmir after its action of August 5, 2019. Qureshi said that he has informed the President of the United Nations Security Council. And the UN Secretary-General about India's possible move.
Pakistan has strongly opposed India's move on August 5, 2019, and has taken up the matter in all international forums including the United Nations Security Council. He said that Pakistan pledges to oppose any move by India that would divide Jammu and Kashmir to change the demography of the region.
An official said that Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Saturday called up various political leaders of different parties. Jammu and Kashmir officials are invited to PM Modi's meeting next week. Officials also said that National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu, and Kashmir Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari, People's Conference chief Sajjad Lone may attend this meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chairperson of this meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also be there. CPI(M) leader and spokesperson of the People's Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration also got an invitation for this meeting. MY Tarigami said that – The government didn't inform us about anything about this.
However, if something like this happens, it would be welcome. Tarigami from Srinagar says "We never closes our doors for a meaningful dialogue with the Centre. The alliance also includes the National Conference and the PDP.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Bukhari said – If any such talks take place, I welcome it. This confirms our position as of March 2020, when we made it clear that dialogue is the only mechanism. The restoration of democracy and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
