Use of Indian-administered J&K' is being taken up with US: MEA

New Delhi: After raising eyebrows in with the explanation that “the use of the term ‘Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir’ (by the United States) merely affirms our (Indian) position that (Hizbul Mujahideen chief) Syed Salahuddin has been involved in cross-border terrorism against India,” the ministry of external affairs (MEA) by Thursday evening said the matter had been taken up with the United States.

On Thursday morning, the MEA reiterated India’s position that J&K is its integral part but did not criticise the use of the term “Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir” by the United States in a US state department report on terrorism. Instead, the MEA pointed out that a “similar term has been used in the state department’s country reports on terrorism brought out every year, including in the period 2010-2013, in the context of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India,” thereby implying that this term was used by the US even when the previous UPA government was in power.

Senior Congress leader and former Union home minister P. Chidambaram had criticised the NDA government over the use of the term by the US in its report.

Howevr, by Thursday evening, the MEA said, “In response to a query whether India has taken up with USA the use of the term ‘Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’ in the State Department’s notification designating Syed Salahuddin as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the official spokesperson said that India’s position that the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India is well known. The US government has been apprised of the same once again.”

In its earlier statement issued on Thursday morning, the MEA said, “The use of the term ‘Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir’ merely affirms our position that Syed Salahuddin has been involved in cross-border terrorism against India. Similar term has been used in the state department’s country reports on terrorism brought out every year, including in the period 2010-2013, in the context of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India. India’s consistent position that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India is well known. India has welcomed the designation of Syed Salahuddin as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US administration...”

This long-awaited step had been under discussion.”

The MEA added, “The Joint Statement issued on June 26, 2017 after Prime Minister’s talks with President Trump is the strongest joint expression of the commitment of the two sides to be shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against terrorism and calls on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries.’’