Congress urges reiteration of 1994 resolution to reclaim PoK, criticises 'internationalisation' of Kashmir issue

New Delhi: Congress on Sunday advocated reiteration of a resolution unanimously passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in 1994 asking Pakistan to vacate Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK), as Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a special session of Parliament.

It found fault with the United States announcing the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan and opposed “internationalisation” of the Kashmir issue after American President Donald Trump issued a fresh statement that he “will work with both (India and Pakistan) to see if, after a ‘thousand years’, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir”.

Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot asked the government to come clean on the remarks of the US president and other American officials and asked what commitments have New Delhi sought and what it has got from Islamabad.

“We were surprised by the fact that Trump announced the ceasefire. This has happened for the first time. Congress has been demanding an all-party meeting and a special session. We should reiterate the 1994 resolution, which was unanimously passed, that PoK is an integral part of India and we will take it back,” he said.

In identical resolutions on February 22, 1994 passed after terror attacks, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha “firmly declared” that Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of the country and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means.

It also demanded Pakistan “must vacate” areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have “occupied through aggression” while resolving that all attempts to interfere in the internal affairs will be “met resolutely”.

“It is time to reiterate this resolution. If there is a change of stand, it should be first discussed. This resolution was passed when Congress was in power. We have not changed our stand,” Pilot said.

He said the American side also said things like discussions will be held at a neutral place. “It is worrying. Internationalisation of the Kashmir issue is not acceptable to us,” he said adding the Opposition and the entire country supported the government's decision to punish Pakistan for its deeds but the way Pakistan violated the ceasefire thereafter is a matter of concern.

On the US, Pilot said the American leadership were saying that the conflict here was “none of our business” a couple of days ago but on Saturday, they were talking about their involvement in the decision on ceasefire. “Has the Indian government accepted this involvement? The big question is what are the conditions?”

He also objected to Trump’s reference to the problem existing between India and Pakistan for “thousand years” saying the neighbouring country was only 78-year-old. “As per Indian policy, there is no scope for any mediation by a third party,” he said.