Khawaja Asif, Pakistani Defence Minister has claimed that the Shehbaz Sharif government and the Congress -National Conference (NC) alliance share a common take on restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. While speaking on TV, Asif said, ‘Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu and Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A’.
The statement comes following Jammu and Kashmir has completed the first phase of its Assembly elections, with the remaining two phases. The elections are the first since the special status of the region was revoked in 2019. Asif’s remarks hughlights the ongoing regional tensions and political chaos surrounding the issue.]
The BJP condemned the alignment, with BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala criticising the Congress -NC alliance for its stance. Taking to X, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan ’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk on Geo News says, ‘Pakistan and National Conference- Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A.’ Was there ever any doubt? Today the cat is out of the bag. For Modi Virodh, they can even stand with Pakistan. Congress-NC ka Haath Pakistan ke Saath.
”This statement by the Pakistani defence minister has come to light a day after India has served a formal notice to Pakistan seeking a review of the 64-year-old Indus Water Treaty, citing fundamental and unforeseen changes in the circumstances and impact of persistent cross border terrorism. The notice was issued to Pakistan on August 30 under Article XII(3) of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), according to the government sources.
Notably, India and Pakistan signed the IWT on September 19, 1960 after nine years of negotiations with an aim to manage cross-border rivers. India’s notification highlights fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of obligations under various articles of the treaty, according to the media reports.
Among many concerns, the important ones include change in population demographics, environmental issues and the need to accelerate development of clean energy to meet India’s emission targets, they said.
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