India downplays US’ statement on J&K

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday defended the use of “Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir” by the US in a statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying similar terms have been used in the past too.

India had objected to the UN Human Rights chief’s usage of ‘Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’ during a human rights council meeting at Geneva recently, saying as entire state is an “integral part of India” the neutrality of the term “India-administered Kashmir” is artificial. On Monday, while designating Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”, the US State Department had said the militant group had claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014 explosives attack in “Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir”, which injured 17 people. Responding to query, external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the use of the term ‘Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’ merely affirmed the Indian position that Salahuddin had been involved in cross-border terrorism against India. “Similar term has been used in the State Department’s country reports on terrorism brought out every year, including in the period 2010-2013, in the context of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India. India’s consistent position that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India is well known,” he said.