India warns Pakistan: Keep off J&K issue

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reacted strongly to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's remarks on violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has warned Pakistan to stay out of Jammu and Kashmir issue.

"We have never interfered in Pakistan's internal matters. Pakistan should do the same," Mukherjee said.

On Wednesday, in his address to the nation, Pakistan President played the Kashmir card, and took a jab at India condemning the violence in Jammu and Kashmir as "human rights violations."

"Every Pakistani is with our brothers and sisters in Srinagar. Kashmir beats in the heart of every Pakistani," Musharraf had said in an address to the nation during the "Azadi Show" event at the Presidency here on the eve of Pakistan's Independence Day.

Musharraf's remarks had come hours after the Pakistan government said it was taking steps to internationalise the Kashmir violence by planning to raise the issue at the United Nations.

In an apparent bid to divert attention away from the impeachment threat looming over him, Musharraf had described as "martyrs" the 21 people who lost their lives in the violence in J&K in the last couple of days.

Musharraf's comments appeared to be an attempt to divert attention of his countrymen from the impeachment threat he was facing in Parliament.

Source : Times Of India