India rejects reference to Kashmir in Pakistan-Malaysia joint statement

NEW DELHI : India Thursday slammed the reference to Kashmir in a Pakistan-Malaysia joint statement, saying the Malaysian leadership should develop a better understanding of facts and acknowledge that Pakistan remains an epicentre of global terrorism.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said India completely rejected the references made to Kashmir, he said is an integral and inalienable part of India.

“We once again call upon the Malaysian leadership to develop better understanding of the facts, including that Pakistan remains an epicentre of global terrorism, which continues to recruit, train, arm and finance cross-border terrorism against India,” he said.

A joint statement issued by Malaysia and Pakistan at the end of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit earlier this week, recorded that the Pakistani prime minister had raised the issue of Kashmir during talks with his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir bin Mohamad.

Khan had also thanked Mahathir bin Mohamad for “speaking up” on the Kashmir issue, news reports said.

India-Malaysia ties have hit a trough in recent times after remarks by Mahathir on India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Kashmir issue. In December, India had summoned the Charged Affairs of the Malaysian embassy and lodged a strong protest over the Malaysian prime minister’s “insensitive” comments criticising the new citizenship law.

New Delhi had also moved palm oil – one of its biggest imports from Malaysia – into a list of restricted items of import, ie those traders importing palm oil from Malaysia would need a special permit from the government.