*ISLAMABAD: **Pakistan officially responds over Indian move of revokingspecial status of Occupied Kashmir under Indian constitution.*

*Denouncing the move of the Indian government to repeal Article 370 foroccupied Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan declared to “exercise all possibleoptions to counter the illegal steps.”*

In a statement issued on Monday, the Foreign Office strongly condemned andrejected the announcements made on Monday by the Indian governmentregarding the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

Earlier today, India’s BJP government moved a bill in the upper house ofthe parliament (Rajaya Sabha) to remove Article 370 from the Indianconstitution about the special status of Kashmir. Home Minister Amit Shahtabled the bill in the parliament amid opposition members’ protest. Laterthe bill was signed by the Indian President.

The foreign office stressed that the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir is aninternationally recognized disputed territory. “No unilateral step by theGovernment of India can change this disputed status, as enshrined in theUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Nor will this ever beacceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan.”

As the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise allpossible options to counter the illegal steps, the FO’s statement read.

“Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and itspolitical, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Occupied Jammu andKashmir for the realization of their inalienable right toself-determination.”