Pak rejects Kashmir move, says will exercise all options

Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday rejected the Indian government revoking Article 370 of the Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and vowed to exercise "all possible options" to counter India's "illegal" and "unilateral" step.

Reacting sharply to the Indian government's announcement, Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said, "Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory".

"No unilateral step by the Indian government can change this disputed status, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Nor will this ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan," it said.

"As the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps," it said.

Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination, the statement said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan would request and appeal to the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, friendly countries and human rights organisations not to remain silent on this issue.

"We intend to firmly highlight our stance in our meetings with the US delegation visiting Pakistan and with the International Community at large," Qureshi said in a tweet.

The situation in Kashmir was more serious than before, he said, adding that Pakistan will consult legal experts.