Pakistan has no locus standi on Kashmir: Rajnath Singh

Pakistan has locus standi on Kashmir and country is backing it on "current issue", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday amid Islamab's efforts to internationalise Centre's move to abrogate provisions of Article 370.

dressing a DRDO event in Leh, Singh asked how can India talk to Pakistan when it keeps trying to destabilise India using terror.

India wants to have a good neighbourly relationship with Pakistan, but it should first stop exporting terror to India, Singh said.

"Pakistan has locus standi on Kashmir. However, it is in illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Gilgit Baltistan," minister said after inaugurating 'Kisan-Jawan Vigyan Mela'.

Parliament h passed an unanimous resolution in February 1994 in which India's stand h been me clear, Singh said.

"I want to ask Pakistan, when h Kashmir belonged to it. Pakistan was also formed out of India," he said.

India respects Pakistan's existence, but that does t mean that it can keep making statements on Kashmir, Singh said.

"Kashmir has been ours, re has been doubt about that in country. truth is that PoK and Gilgit Baltistan is in illegal occupation of Pakistan. Pakistan should focus on dressing human rights violations and atrocities in PoK," Singh said.

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He said US Defense Secretary Mark Esper during a telephonic conversation told him that abrogation of provisions of Article 370 was an internal matter of India.

" country is with Pakistan on current issue," Singh said.

He also cited Hindi proverb 'begani shai mein abdullah deewana' to assert that Pakistan h thing to do with Kashmir.

Earlier this month, government h revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of Constitution and divided state into Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Lakh.

"When we me a law to make Lakh a separate Union Territory n we t only respected public sentiment here but also gave a solution to problems of people," Singh said.

"Our prime minister has me it clear that localised solution will be brought in for India's strategic areas," he said.

Organised by Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) DRDO, 'Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela' is a big step towards strengning strategic ecosystem in Lakh, Singh said. 

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