Ex-Afghanistan Prez Hamid Karzai echo Afghan view in welcoming India's move on J&K; support pours in from nations

"Comments in Pakistan linking peace in Afghanistan to their objectives in Kashmir are indicative of Pakistan viewing Afghanistan as strategic depth. I call on Pakistan govt to stop using extremist violence as instrument of policy in the region. We hope the new measures by govt .of India will lead to the betterment and prosperity of people in Jammu and Kashmir as the citizens of India," the former Afghanistan President tweeted.

A similar opinion was echoed by the Police Chief of Kandahar Tadeen Khan Achakzai as he tweeted: "In these hands, there is an unbreakable confluence of 'smile and faith' #JammuKashmir A pleasant picture. #Kashmir was a part of #India and it will be remain part of India forever. We support you Indian government from Loy Afghanistan.We Afghans are with #Modi #JaiHind ."

Russia asked the two nuclear-armed neighbours to resolve problems diplomatically.

"Moscow expects that India and Pakistan will not allow aggravation of the situation in the region due to the change by Delhi in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir,"  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said in a statement. 

"We proceed from fact that the changes associated with the change in the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two union territories are carried out within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India. We hope that the parties involved will not allow a new aggravation of the situation in the region as a result of the decisions," it said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has rejected Pakistan's appeal to mediate on the discussion of Kashmir and Article 370 between Pakistan and India. 

Aurora Intel group with a post on Twitter: The #UnitedNations (#UN) has rejected #Pakistan's appeal to mediate on the discussion of #Kashmir and #Article370 between Pakistan and #India.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appealed for ‘maximum restraint’ over the territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, which has been disputed by India and Pakistan, since the end of British rule in the late 1940s.

Guterres said in a statement issued by his Spokesperson, that he had been following the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, “with concern”, adding “the position of the United Nations on this region is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions.”

"The Secretary-General also recalls the 1972 Agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement”, the statement continued, “which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means”, in accordance with the UN Charter.

The UN chief said he was “concerned over reports of restrictions on the Indian-side of Kashmir, which could exacerbate the human rights situation in the region”, and called on “all parties to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The creation of Buddhist-majority Ladakh as a Union Territory after bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir state has been welcomed by Sri Lanka’s high-ranking monks, the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siyam Nikaya.

Mahanayaka theros are high-ranking Buddhist monks who oversee and regulate the Buddhist clergy in Theravada Buddhist (a Buddhist school) countries.

“This would further strengthen religious, political and cultural relations between the two countries and take them to a higher plane,” said the statement  by the senior monks of Sri Lanka, a Buddhist majority country.

In an expression of support, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to India Dr Ahmad Al Banna  expressed hope that Article 370 Jammu and Kashmir decision would help improve the social and economic conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan expels Indian High Commissioner:

Just a day after the Indian government took major steps in Kashmir, Pakistan on Wednesday expelled Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria. Pakistan also decided to downgrade all bilateral trade with India.

India has responded to the development urging Pakistan to reconsider its decision of downgrading bilateral trade and also accused its neighbour of creating an "alarmist" picture of their relation.

Modi's Kashmir googly:

Indian Parliament in a bold decision passed the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 which bifurcated the terror-hit northern state into two Union Territories - J&K, a Union Territory with Legislative Assembly, and Ladakh, a UT without Legislative Assembly.

The Modi government  scrapped Article 35 A and Article 370 which were used to give Jammu and Kashmir a special status.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution allowed the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and also provided special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.

Article 370 allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.