Shah Mehmood Qureshi | Photo Credit: AP

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday provoked India by stating that it would continue to lend support to separatist elements in Jammu and Kashmir, with its foreign minister saying a “legitimate struggle” was underway in the Valley. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met the prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Raja Farooq Haider, and said the newly-appointed government of Prime Minister Imran Khan would continue the policy of the previous governments on Kashmir.

“The Foreign Minister affirmed that the Government and the people of Pakistan would continue to give full moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of J&K in their legitimate struggle to attain their inalienable right to self-determination,” a press release stated.

The remarks are in stark contrast to the desire expressed by PM Imran Khan on restarting the bilateral dialogue. In his address to the nation following his victory in the July 25 election, Khan had said that if India takes one step towards us, Pakistan will take two steps.

He had mentioned Kashmir as a core issue between India and Pakistan, underlining that its resolution was key to better bilateral ties. He had earlier this month tweeted to reiterate his desire to hold talks: “To move forward Pakistan and India must dialogue and resolve their conflicts incl Kashmir: The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading.”

However, the remarks by the foreign minister today have come as a setback to any chance of a dialogue restarting anytime soon. New Delhi is unlikely to accept the argument that incidents of terrorism and violence are a “legitimate struggle”, especially because the Pakistan hand in supporting terrorism in the Valley is clear.

It is not the first time that Qureshi, who was appointed just days back, has made remarks that have not been taken well in India. Soon after taking oath as the foreign minister, Qureshi had suggested that PM Narendra Modi had written a congratulatory letter to Imran Khan in which he had expressed desire for a dialogue. India had, however, rejected that claim, saying the PM only wished his Pakistani counterpart in the letter.

The remarks came even as Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, who is close to the Army, said that she has prepared a proposal to resolve the Kashmir issue. Mazari added that she would present the proposal before PM Khan soon.