The Hindu : Whole of J&K is disputed territory: Kasuri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 07, 2003

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Whole of J&K is disputed territory: Kasuri

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD JUNE 6. Pakistan has said that the "whole of Jammu and Kashmir" (including the territory under occupation of Pakistan and China) is "disputed territory" and that its status is yet to be determined as required by the U.N. Security Council Resolutions.

The Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, made the remarks in an interview to an Indian television channel. He was asked to respond to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's recent statement that in any future negotiations the status of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would also be discussed.

Significantly, the Pakistan Foreign Office chose to issue a formal statement enumerating Mr. Kasuri's response.

It is unusual for the Foreign Office to put out a press statement on an individual interview.

Obviously, Islamabad wants to put its viewpoint on the subject on record as it had not joined issue with Mr. Vajpayee when he made the statement on PoK on his return from the three-nation tour.

Mr. Kasuri said the "disputed status" of Jammu and Kashmir had been maintained in the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.

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