Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Sunday (February 16) reacted strongly to UN chief Antonio Guterres’s comments on Jammu and Kashmir, stressing region is and will remain an integral part of India and the only issue which must be addressed is of vacation of territories “illegally and forcibly” occupied by Pakistan.
Kumar reiterated that the Kashmir issue is between India and Pakistan and there was no role or scope for any third-party mediation on this matter. The MEA spokesperson made the statements after UN Secretary-General Guterres, who is on a visit to Pakistan, on Sunday expressed concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Guterres had also offered to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve the Kashmir issue.
“India’s position has not changed. Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and will continue to be an integral part of India. The issue that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan,” the external affairs ministry spokesperson said.