SRINAGAR: India has lodged protest with the UK to stop the hosting of a conference on Kashmir which is to be held inside British parliament in London. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar in a weekly briefing said that India had taken up the matter with the United Kingdom and "expected" the British government to address India's concerns.
The meeting being organised at the House of Commons of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan (APPG-Pakistan) would include Conservative and Labour Party MPs. This would be followed by an exhibition in London to highlight the centrality of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the grave human rights violations against the Kashmiri people, by India, which are being widely condemned and need to be immediately stopped, read a statement by Pakistan's Foreign Office.
Meanwhile British High Commission Spokesperson in New Delhi said that UK has said that it will not interfere in the matter. They added "UK Members of Parliament are independent of government; it is for individual members to decide who they meet and for what purpose." The British High Commission spokesperson said in a statement, "We understand Qureshi is travelling to London to attend a number of private events. There are no plans for meetings with the UK Government during this visit."
"The UK's longstanding position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the Kashmiri people's wishes", said BHC spokesperson.