New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan was today rubbished by its own former Envoy to India Abdul Basit for unveiling the new map of the country, which shows Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.
“How can J&K including AJ&K be shown as part of Pakistan if it is disputed as mentioned on the new map as well. Self-contradictory. I have more comments to make but for now this may suffice,” tweeted Basit, a well-regarded retired diplomat of Pakistan.
His reference to ‘AJ&K’ is to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which Pakistan calls ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’.
Basit’s stinging reaction came hours after the Pakistan government released the country’s new map, apparently to claim that Jammu and Kashmir is not a part of India, to coincide with first anniversary of the abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The act has also been criticised and questioned by several Pakistanis on social media, saying that it was a move by the Imran Khan government to divert the people’s attention. Some said that it was an “eye-wash” by the Pakistan government to keep the “people entertained”.
Significantly, Basit has also denounced Pakistan Army’s move to release a “special song” which was supposed to show “solidarity” with people of Kashmir on the occasion of first anniversary of abolition of Article 370.
“Enough of twitter and song diplomacy–this will achieve nothing but make you more complacent and that is worrying,” said the former Pakistan High Commissioner to India.
Basit was High Commissioner to India from 2014 to 2017.
