India fails Pakistan's attempt to raise Kashmir issue at UNICEF

New Delhi : A parliamentary delegation from India on Wednesday failed Pakistan's bid to raise the Kashmir issue at a UNICEF event in Sri Lanka, claiming that it is an internal matter of India.

This comes two days after India had failed Pakistan's similar attempt at the South Asian Speakers’ Summit in the Maldives, saying Islamabad should put an end to all state support to terrorism, which is the “biggest threat” to humanity.

On Tuesday, a Pakistan delegation tried to rake up the rights of Kashmiris issue at UNICEF South Asian Parliamentarian Conference on Children Rights Convention in Colombo.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi reminded the Pakistani delegation of their country’s internal situation related to human rights, the plight of minorities and legislations such as the "blasphemy law".

Both Gogoi and BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal were seen claiming that Kashmir is an internal matter of India.

Later, in a video statement, Gogoi said it was “highly unfortunate” that at a child rights conference organised by the UNICEF, the Pakistani delegation tried to internationalise the matter of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We firmly reminded them that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and India is the largest democracy in the world and as stakeholders in the Indian democracy, an Indian voice will be heard, not that of a vested interest, not that of a foreign country, and not certainly that of Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan’s Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri tried to raise the Kashmir issue during the discussion on “Sustainable Development Goals”.

Pakistan had been continuously trying to make Kashmir an international matter after India crushed down Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.