India rejects Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide’s Kashmir remarks, reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India.
New Delhi: India has strongly rejected remarks by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide concerning the Kashmir issue, reiterating New Delhi’s position that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India.
The response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came after Eide held talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday. Following the meeting, Eide said regional issues, including Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan, were discussed. Dar reportedly described Kashmir as a “long-standing unresolved” dispute.
India Reiterates Its Position
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the remarks during his regular media briefing on Friday. He made it clear that New Delhi’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remains unchanged.
Jaiswal said the international community should instead focus on the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including what India describes as atrocities and the alleged use of the territory for cross-border terrorism.
Indus Waters Treaty Also in Focus
The diplomatic exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan over several issues, including the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Jaiswal was also asked about criticism from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding India’s decision to keep the treaty in abeyance. The MEA spokesperson said there had been no change in India’s position on the treaty.
New Delhi has maintained that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border terrorism.
India-Norway Relations
India and Norway maintain bilateral cooperation across areas including trade, investment, energy and the blue economy. Eide has previously engaged with Indian officials on bilateral and international issues.
The latest remarks, however, have added a diplomatic dimension to the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, with New Delhi once again firmly reiterating its position on Jammu and Kashmir.
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