2024-09-21 10:03:05
Islamabad: The assembly elections to be held in Jammu and Kashmir are also being discussed in Pakistan. In this election, the removal of Article 370 of the Constitution is being seen as an issue. In a conversation on Geo News, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has given a big statement about this. He said that Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance are together to restore Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. However, in this election, the Congress is completely silent about Article 370. It has not even mentioned it in its manifesto. Congress has talked about giving full statehood status to Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir asked Khawaja Asif in his program, ‘Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru had decided 370 and 35A. Now both these parties, National Conference and Congress, are saying in the election that if we win, we will end the suspension of 35A and 370. Do you think this is possible?’ The Pakistani minister said, ‘This is possible. Both Congress and National Conference have significant presence. There is a great chance that he will come to power. He has made this an election issue.
Pakistan and Congress-NC alliance together?
Further, Hamid Mir read out the statement of the Congress leader, in which he does not mention Article 370 anywhere. But he demands to make Jammu and Kashmir a full state. After this, Hamid Mir said, ‘Can we say that today the government of Pakistan and the Congress and National Conference of India are on the same page?’ Regarding this, Khawaja Asif said, ‘On this issue (Article 370), absolutely. Our demand has also been that the status of Kashmir should be restored.’
What did Congress say in its manifesto?
Congress’ manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir elections is completely silent on Article 370. There is no mention of Article 370 in the Congress manifesto. But it has a demand to give full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. However, Congress’ alliance partner Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference is loudly promising to restore Article 370 and give full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. BJP is constantly targeting the Congress alliance over this.