In what looks like a tit-for-tat move, India has passed a resolution against Pakistan whose National Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the hanging and burial of former Kashmir militant, Afzal Guru, in New Delhi last month.
Both the Houses of parliament outrightly rejected the Pakistani resolution and unanimously asked the neighbouring country to not interfere in India’s internal affairs and desist from acts of support for terror elements.
In identical resolutions moved by presiding officers — Speaker Meira Kumar in Lok Sabha and Chairman Hamid Ansari in Rajya Sabha — both Houses asserted that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Azad Kashmir, “is and shall always be an integral part of India”.
Emphasising that any attempt to interfere in India’s internal affairs will be met “resolutely and with complete unity” of the nation, the Indian parliament asked Pakistan to fulfill its commitment of not allowing terrorism from its soil if it wanted peaceful relations with India.
“This House totally rejects the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 14, 2013,” said the resolutions.
The National Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution condemning the hanging of Parliament House attack convict Afzal Guru and demanded that his body be returned to his family.
Pakistan’s resolution had also expressed concern at the situation created in Kashmir by the execution.
Noting that Pakistan had committed that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India, the resolutions said, “Only fulfillment of this commitment can be the basis for peaceful relations with Pakistan.”
Later, talking to reporters Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said, “India, as a responsible country, is doing things constitutionally, and as per the law. For the parliament of Pakistan to pass such a resolution is highly improper.”