Pakistan ‘disappointed’ over US govt’s tweet on Kashmir

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) – The US State Department’s “India’s Jammu & Kashmir” tweet is “inconsistent” with the disputed status of the region, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"We are disappointed to note the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the US Department of State’s tweet regarding the resumption of 4G mobile internet in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)," said Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. Since partition, they have fought three wars, two of them over the disputed region.

Last week, India lifted an 18-month-long ban on high-speed internet services on mobile devices in the disputed region.

A blanket ban on the internet was imposed in August 2019 when India stripped Kashmir of its special status that gave its residents special rights in land ownership and jobs. Months later, India restored partial internet connectivity.

On Wednesday, the US State Department welcomed the resumption of high-speed internet, referring to the disputed territory as "India's Jammu & Kashmir."

"We welcome the resumption of 4G mobile internet in India's Jammu & Kashmir. This marks an important step for local residents and we look forward to continued political & economic progress to restore normalcy in J&K," Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the US State Department tweeted.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said: "The reference is inconsistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir as recognized by numerous United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the international community."