Pak Cabinet approves govt's measures against India on Kashmir

Pakistan's Cabinet on Friday officially approved a slew of measures, including downgrading of diplomatic relations and snapping of trade ties, taken by the government in response to India's decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcate the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the meeting of the Cabinet which discussed the situation in Kashmir.

Briefing the media, Special Assistant to Prime minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Cabinet approved the measures taken by the National Security Committee against India.

"Those measures among others include snapping the trade ties and downgrading the diplomatic relations," she said.

Prime Minister Khan took the Cabinet into confidence on regional situation emerging after revocation of the special status of Kashmir by India, Awan said.

She said the focal groups were formed on Kashmir that will work under their mandate and give concrete recommendations to the government.

The Cabinet appreciated the statement of UN Secretary General on Kashmir in which he expressed concern on the situation and also recalled that under the Simla Agreement the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Awan said