'They misused it': India slams Pak for raising Kashmir issue during SAARC video-conference

India on Thursday slammed Pakistan after country on Sunday used SAARC nations video conference on coronavirus to raise issue of Kashmir, with State Minister of Health Zafar Mirza calling for immediate lifting of "lockdown" re to allow virus containment measures.

In a press briefing on COVID-19 , MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "A crisis of this magnitude does t recognise borders. In this spirit, Prime Minister h called SAARC video-conference on coronavirus. platform was t political, but humanitarian. y misused it." 

Apart from Mirza, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangleshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, participated in video conference.

Pak calls for lifting of 'lockdown'

underlying mess of video conference was unitedly taking on pandemic, but Pakistan used occasion to raise Kashmir issue, with Mirza calling for "lockdown" to be lifted in Jammu and Kashmir to deal with coronavirus threat.

"Equity in health is a fundamental principle of public health. In this regard, let me say that it is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has been reported" from Jammu and Kashmir and in view of health emergency, it is imperative that all "lockdown" re must be lifted immediately,

"Opening up communication and movement would facilitate dissemination of information, allow distribution of medical supplies and allow containment...to proceed unimpeded," Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Mirza said.

Pakistan has been trying to internationalise Kashmir issue but India has asserted that abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter". New Delhi has also asked Islamab to accept reality and stop its anti-India rhetoric.

'Pakistan can't stoop lower than this'

Senior Congress leer Abhishek Singhvi slammed Pakistan on Sunday for raising Kashmir during SAARC nations' video-conference on coronavirus, saying country deserved to be "quarantined" by global community.

"Pakistan can't stoop lower than this. During a humongous humanitarian crisis, it sends a junior minister for SAARC meeting of hes of state. n raises Kashmir issue in meeting out of where. Pity," Singhvi said in a tweet.

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According to data by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in India stands at 167 which includes 25 foreigners. So far 4 people have died in India because of dely virus. 

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(With PTI inputs)