'Same page with Congress-NC': Pakistan minister on Article 370 restoration
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that his country and the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance share a common stance on restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. "They (the alliance) have made it an election issue. Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu and Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A," Asif said in an interview with Geo News.
Asif predicts Congress-NC alliance's victory in J&K polls
Asif further predicted a "high chance" that the Congress-NC alliance would win the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. These elections are particularly significant as they are the first since the region's special status was revoked in 2019. The NC has pledged to reinstate Article 370, while the Congress party has not explicitly mentioned this issue in its manifesto but promised to restore full statehood status to Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP criticizes Congress over Article 370 stance
Asif's comments have drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with IT cell chief Amit Malviya accusing the Congress of siding with those "inimical to India's interest." "Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference's position on Kashmir. How is it that, from (Gurpatwant) Pannun to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress are always seen on the side of those inimical to India's interest?" Malviya tweeted.
BJP leaders question Congress's alignment with Pakistan
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticized the Congress, suggesting that their opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi could lead them to align with Pakistan. Former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned if Pakistan has any leverage on Congress. "What power does Pakistan exercise over Rahul? What is reason for this control? Do the Pakis have some leverage on Congress ?" Chandrasekhar asked.
