Abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan in huddle, summons Indian envoy
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria.
Pakistan is a huddle after India decided to remove special status to Jammu and Kashmir and fully integrate it with the country's union.
While Pakistan's PresidentArif Alvi has called for a joint session of Parliament, its Army chief has summonedCorps Commanders Conference onTuesdayto discuss the situationpost abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
India's envoy to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria was summoned and a "strong protest" was lodged by handing over a demarche by the foreign secretary of PakistanSohail Mahmood.
The first reaction from Pakistan came in the afternoon, almost two hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the government will go ahead with the abrogation of Article 370.
In a tweet, Pak president's office said, "India's attempt to further change status...is against the resolutions of UNSC and against wishes of the Kashmiri people".
What followed was a barrage of tweets, statements from Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Pakistani's foreign ministry.
While "condemning and rejecting" the announcements made by New Delhi, Qureshi in a tweet said that his government will highlight the development with the"US delegation visiting Pakistan and with the international community at large."
SeniorUS State Department diplomatAlice Wells is on a visit to Pakistan as a follow-up to the visit of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan to the US.
Qureshi further said, "Pakistan reaffirms it's abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause".
Pak foreign ministry in a statement said that Islamabad "will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps."
Meanwhile, Pak PM Imran Khan reached out to countries like Malaysia and Turkey.Imran Khan spoke toMalaysian Prime MinisterMahathirMohamad andTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and apprised them about Islamabad's views on India's action.