India hopes UK will keep sensitivities in mind and not allow Kashmir conference

India on Thursday expressed hope that Britain will keep its sensitivities in mind and not allow the proposed conference on Kashmir, which is expected to be attended by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated this a day after India lodged a strong protest over Qureshi's phone call to Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq during which he invited him to the conference.

With India taking strong objection to the telephone call, the Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale summoned Pakistan High Commissioner last night and told his country to desist from such actions as the persistence of such behaviour will have implications.

"UK is aware of the sensitivities in the matter, both as a friendly country as well as a strategic partner. We hope that the Government of United Kingdom will address our concerns, which we have explained, possibly on the proposed conference, very clearly intended to undermine the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," Kumar said.

"As far as the event is concerned, there is no doubt that this again exposes Pakistan's duplicity where they talk about peace on one hand and at the same time are working together with forces that are pushing or fomenting anti-India sentiments. We condemn such behaviour by Pakistan," the spokesperson said.

Kumar noted that the behaviour of Qureshi should be condemned and is a "direct interference" in the internal affairs of India.

"Pakistan fails to understand the constant subversion between supporting a particular position in Kashmir, but at the same time also trying to divert the attention of the entire international community from the acts of terrorism, which they are supporting, not only individuals but the entire infrastructure that operates from their soil," the spokesperson said.

In a press statement, the External Affairs Ministry said, "the Government of India's condemnation in the strongest terms of this latest brazen attempt by Pakistan to subvert India's unity and to violate our sovereignty and territorial integrity, by none other than the Pakistan Foreign Minister."

"The Foreign Secretary underscored that by this action Pakistan has confirmed yet again that it officially abets and encourages individuals associated with terrorism and anti-India activities. It has exposed to the entire international community Pakistan's duplicity in professing their desire for normal relations with India on the one hand, while openly inciting anti-India activities on the other," the statement read.

It underlined that India's position that the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and shall remain an integral part of India and that Pakistan has no locus standi in any matter related to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, has been made clear again to the High Commissioner of Pakistan.