ISLMABAD – India left frustrated yet again as:Malaysian PM Mahatir Mohammadproved to be a man of words over Occupied Kashmir.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday defended his commentsabout Kashmir, which had upset India, and said that the remarks were merelyan extension of his discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whenthe two metlinkinVladivostok, Russia, the *Malay Mail* reported.
India had cancelled the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir underArticle 370 of the Constitution in August, leading to outrage fromPakistan, seen as an ally of Malaysia.
In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last month, Mohamadclaimed that India had “invaded and occupied” Kashmir despite severalUnited Nations resolutions calling it a disputed territory. “Ignoring theUN would lead to other forms of disregard for the United Nations and therule of law,” he added. In response, India’s External Affairs MinistrySpokesperson Raveesh Kumar saidlinktheGovernment of Malaysia should bear in mind the friendly relations betweenthe two countries and desist from making such remarks.ADVERTISEMENT
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However, on Tuesday, Mohamad said “We do not criticise, Just demandingthat both parties negotiate and not use violence. That has always been ourpolicy. Do not use violence and instead, negotiate, or go for arbitrationor go to the court of law.”
Twitter users in India have started a #BoycottMalaysia movement in responseto the prime minister’s remarks. But Mohamad said he did not think hisremarks would affect trade relations with India. “I have already spoken toModi,” he said. “If there are any unsatisfactory feelings within Modi, hecan contact me, but to date, no calls.”
