Pak can’t take Kashmir issue to ICJ: Sushma
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday addressed an annual press conference of her ministry here, speaking on a range of issues.
On Pakistan, Swaraj said the government didn’t spend much time and energy. “For us, Pakistan is any other country. Remember three issues: we want to resolve all issues through dialogue, dialogue will be bilateral, and terror and talks can’t go simultaneously,” she said.
Swaraj said, “We are not going one step forward, two step backward on Pakistan. There are no meetings scheduled between PM Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif in Astana, during the forthcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.”
Swaraj clarified there would be no third-party mediation in talks with the neighbour. “Pakistan can no way take the Kashmir issue to International Court of Justice (ICJ), it can only be resolved bilaterally,” she said.
On Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, on a death sentence in Pakistan, Swaraj said, “As long as the case filed in ICJ is not resolved, Jadhav can’t be given capital punishment.”
On the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Swaraj said, “Our policies are not to counter any country but we agree connectivity in principle. Has it been made through consultations? Did it compromise territorial integrity? We can’t accept a road through Kashmir which we consider an integral part of India.”
Swaraj said she would raise with China the issue of violation of airspace; two Chinese helicopters on Saturday violated Indian airspace in Uttarakhand.
Swaraj said India had signed the Paris agreement neither under pressure nor for the lure of funds. “We did it due to our commitment. Whether the US stays or not, we will remain committed to the deal.” When asked about her ministry’s achievements, Swaraj said that 80,000 people stranded abroad were brought back in the last three years.