At an event in New Delhi, called 'Improving Indo-Pak relations', Congress leader Saifuddin Soz made a controversial comment, reports ANI. The senior Congress leader blamed India, not Pakistan for the problems in Jammu and Kashmir.

Incidentally, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit was also present at the event. Eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani and former Pakistan Foreign Minister KM Kasuri were also present. When Ram Jethmalani said that Pakistan was responsible for problems in Kashmir, Saifuddin Soz interjected and said he did not agree with the assertion.

Later, he defended his controversial statement saying, "Autonomy had been enshrined in the Constitution of India The conditional accession to India had been expanded by adding subjects. SK Abdullah led the delegation and talked to Nehru. Between Nehru and Abdullah was the agreement that gave comprehensive autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Delhi governmentt unilaterally eroded that 370 (Article) and created the problem."

#WATCH: Congress leader Saifuddin Soz maintains his stand that 'current problem in Kashmir is created by India and not by Pakistan' pic.twitter.com/2tqvSdcvjD — ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017

Relations between India and Pakistan hit a low after a Pakistan military court awarded death sentence to former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that Kulbhushan Jadhav has a right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days, even as he justified the death penalty given to the Indian national.

Jadhav, 46, was awarded death sentence by military Field General Court Martial under the army act, for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage. The death sentence was confirmed by powerful army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Speaking in the Senate, upper house of parliament, the defence minister said that Jadhav has the right to appeal against his death sentence within 60 days.

The sentence sparked angry reaction from India which said Jadhav's execution would be treated as "premeditated murder." Asif dismissed Indian concerns that proper legal process was not observed in the trial. "There was nothing in the [legal] proceedings that was against the law," he said. He also rejected the charges of premeditated murder.

"It's not premeditated murder, what's happening in Kashmir is (premeditated murder)," he alleged. The minister further said that the trial of Jadhav went for went on "for three months", rejecting rumours that he was hastily convicted. The minister said those working against the security of Pakistan would be treated with "iron hands." "Whether the enemies come from across the border or within Pakistan, they will receive punishment," he said.

With PTI inputs.