KARACHI: The Government is understood to have taken a very serious view of the Indian Govern­ment’s order extending the application of the provisions of Articles 356 and 357 of the Indian Constitution to the Indian-held areas of Jammu and Kashmir state, empowering the Indian Pre­sident to take over the state’s administration in certain cases. The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, it is understood, have already been informed of Pakistan’s resentment against the Indian move believed to have been encouraged by the West’s massive arms aid to India.

The Indian Government, it is learnt, has not so far cared to reply to Pakistan’s strongly worded protest note, handed over to the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi on Dec 9, warning the Indian Government against the “disastrous consequences” which might flow from its determined bid to integrate the state with the Indian Union in utter disregard of world opinion and their own international commitments. The way the Indian Government has proceeded to announce this week the implementation of the decision which was announced in the Lok Sabha by the Home Minister, Mr. G.L. Nada on Dec 4, ignoring Pakistan’s protest, has been strongly resented in Pakistan. What steps Pakistan should take to meet the situation, it is learnt, is being considered at the highest level. — Special Representative

Published in Dawn December 23th , 2014