India hits back at Pakistan, says "invoking alarmist vision of the region will never succeed", over J&K integration

Issuing a statement on Pakistan’s unilateral decision to downgrade bilateral relations, India on Thursday said that the intention of Pakistan is to present an alarming picture to the world. Statement by new Delhi also called out the terrorism spread by Pakistan by saying that the scrapping of Article 370 is negatively perceived in Pakistan as the country had utilized such sentiments to justify its cross-border terrorism.

Here is the statement:

1. We have seen reports that Pakistan has decided to take certain unilateral actions in respect to its bilateral relations with India.  This includes the downgrading of our diplomatic relations.  The intention behind these measures is obviously to present an alarming picture to the world of our bilateral ties.  The reasons cited by Pakistan are not supported by facts on the ground. 
 
2. Recent decisions by the Government and Parliament of India are driven by a commitment to extend to Jammu and Kashmir opportunities for development that were earlier denied by a temporary provision in the Constitution.  Its impact would also result in the removal of gender and socio-economic discrimination.  It is also expected to result in an upswing of economic activity and improvement in the livelihood prospects of all people of Jammu and Kashmir.
 
3.  It is not surprising that such developmental initiatives that could address any disaffection in Jammu and Kashmir should be negatively perceived in Pakistan, which has utilized such sentiments to justify its cross-border terrorism. 
 
4. The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India.  The Constitution of India was, is and will always be a sovereign matter.  Seeking to interfere in that jurisdiction by invoking an alarmist vision of the region will never succeed. 
 
5.  The Government of India regrets the steps announced by Pakistan yesterday and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved.

READ: Article 370 Scrapped: Imran Khan dials British PM Boris Johnson after Pakistan expels Indian envoy, downgrades bilateral ties

Baffled Pakistan takes many 'actions'

After normalcy has been restored in Kashmir, a panicky and isolated Pakistan has expelled Indian envoy Ajay Bisaria from the country. As per sources, Pakistan has also decided to not send its High Commissioner-designate who was supposed to take charge in August.

In a series of other moves by the neighbouring country, it has decided to downgrade ties with India. It has also decided to suspend bilateral trade with India and review all bilateral arrangements with India. Pakistan has also said that it will take India's internal matter of Kashmir to United Nations, including the Security Council. It has also decided to observe 14 August, its Independence Day in solidarity with 'Kashmiris'. and declared August 15, India's Independence as 'Black Day'.

India scraps Article 370

The Narendra Modi government on August 5 revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Both the ipper house and the lower house of the Parliament approved the resolution abrogating Article 370 for J&K and a bill to bifurcate the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with Home Minister Amit Shah saying the controversial provisions were responsible for poverty and lack of development in the state. Ministry of External Affairs also briefed the envoys of the P5 nations -- the US, the UK, China, France and Russia -- about Indian government's decision to scrap Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two union territories.

READ: Article 370 Scrapped: US Lawmakers Warns Pakistan, Says 'take Action Against Terrorist Infrastructure', Refrain From 'retaliatory Aggression'