Pakistan slams India's decision to abolish Kashmir's special status

Pakistan on Monday condemned India's move to abolish Kashmir's special status as "illegal", insisting it was an internationally recognised disputed territory.

Indian security personnel stand guard along a deserted street during restrictions in Jammu, August 5, 2019. REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta

"No unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status... As the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan's Shireen Mazari tweet

It is not enough simply to condemn this move against all int norms and int law along with UNSC resolutions. Kashmir is recognised as disputed territory in UNSC resolutions. India cannot alter IOK status through its parliament. https://t.co/dQ9JehmPZ0

  Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 5, 2019

It added that the move, which Islamabad "strongly rejects and condemns", will not "ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan". 

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

India's decision to strip Kashmir of the special autonomy it has enjoyed for seven decades has also prompted condemnation on Pakistani Twitter, where at one point the top six trending hashtags all related to the move.

Pakistan's human rights ministerbranded the step "illegal annexation" in a tweet.