Iran Urges India-Pakistan Dialogue over Kashmir Dispute

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi has called on India and Pakistan to hold dialogue and take peaceful measures to protect the regional people’s interests amid heightened tensions over Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is closely following up on the Indian government’s latest decisions regarding Jammu and Kashmir as well as the explanations provided by Indian and Pakistani officials on the developments unfolding in the region,” Mousavi said in a Wednesday statement.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran expects India and Pakistan – as its regional friends and partners – to adopt peaceful methods and dialogue to take effective steps in order to protect the interests of regional people,” he added.

On Tuesday, the lower house of the Indian parliament approved a controversial bill that strips the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir of its autonomous status.

The bill, which had already passed the upper house of India’s parliament, needs to be signed into law by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The measure had been introduced earlier this week by the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which announced that it was revoking Article 370, a constitutional provision that grants special status to Kashmir.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory.

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