France says Kashmir a bilateral issue
PARIS:France has said that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, asking them to resolve their differences over it through political dialogue and refrain from any step likely to aggravate tensions. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s remarks came as his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi called him on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Kashmir after India revoked the special status for the Jammu and Kashmir.
Drian recalled France’s constant position on Kashmir that it is up to the two countries, under the framework of their bilateral political dialogue, to resolve this dispute so as to establish lasting peace, the French foreign ministry said in statement on Tuesday.
France makes a call to the parties for restraint, de-escalation, and easing the situation. It is essential to abstain from any measure likely to aggravate tensions, it said.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of J&K was an internal matter and advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office in Islamabad, Qureshi hoped that France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), would play its due role to ensure peace and stability in the region. Qureshi made contact with French counterpart after reports in media that France was not supportive of Pakistan during UN Security Council meeting.
DHAKA BACKS INDIA
Bangladesh on Wednesday backed India on the Kashmir issue, saying that the abrogation of special status for J&K is an internal issue of India.
As Indian External Affairs Minister SJ a is hank ar concluded his three-day visit to Dhaka, the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement, also called for regional peace and stability.
“Bangladesh maintains that the abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian government is an internal issue of India,” the statement said.