Times of Islamabad

In a failed bid to isolate Pakistan, India faces a diplomatic blow despite official requests from Delhi

In a failed bid to isolate Pakistan, India faces a diplomatic blow despite official requests from Delhi

NEW DELHI – India faces a diplomatic blow from UK as Britain refused tostop Pakistan sponsored Kashmir solidarity event in British Parliamentdespite official request from Delhi.

After the Indian government lodged a protest with the United Kingdom over aKashmir solidarity event to be held in the British parliament on Feb 4, theUK government said it would not interfere in the matter, *India Today* reportedlinkFriday.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said duringa media briefing on Thursday that Delhi had taken the matter of the AllParty Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pakistan’s event ─ scheduled to be heldin the House of Commons ─ highlighting human rights violations in IndianOccupied Kashmir “very strongly” with the UK.

“We hope that they will understand our objections to the proposedconference and take appropriate action,” Kumar said.

Describing the UK as “a friendly country and strategic partner”, Kumar saidIndia was hopeful and “expected” that the British government would addressDelhi’s concerns.

The UK, however, said it would not interfere in the matter, with theBritish High Commission (BHC) spokesperson in New Delhi asserting that”UK’s Members of Parliament are independent of the government; it is forindividual members to decide who they meet and for what purpose”.