Pakistan says it’s not planning military action

Published On: August 8, 2019 05:13 PM NPT By: Associated Press

ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: Pakistan’s foreign minister says Islamabad is not considering any military actions and instead is looking at political and legal options to challenge India’s changes to disputed Kashmir’s status.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi made the remarks Thursday at a news conference in Islamabad.

He says he will soon travel to China to inform Beijing about the situation after India downgraded the special status of Kashmir, a Himalayan region claimed by both Pakistan and India.

He rejected New Delhi’s claim that the changes were its internal matter and that Islamabad should reconsider its expulsion of India’s ambassador and suspension of trade and s key train service.

Pakistan says it has suspended a key train service with neighboring India over change in Kashmir’s special status by New Delhi.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad says the Express, or Friendship Express, train service is suspended from Thursday.

The latest move comes a day after Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic ties with India and suspended trade in response to New Delhi’s decision to reduce the special status of Kashmir, a Himalayan region claimed by both countries.

The railway suspension announcement was made as passengers were waiting to board a train in the eastern city of Lahore to travel to India.

An opposition activist has filed a petition in India’s top court challenging the communications blackout and security clampdown in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, where people remained holed up in their homes for a fourth day.

State-run All India Radio says security agencies have arrested more than 500 people in the region apparently to prevent any outbreak of violence.

India’s government this week revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and downgraded the Himalayan region from statehood to a territory. Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, and rebels have been fighting Indian rule in the portion it administers for decades.

India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Kashmir on Wednesday to assess the law and order situation.