Pakistan envoy's remarks on Kashmir breach of diplomatic etiquette: Congress

New Delhi: Calling Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit's remarks on Kashmir as the greatest breach of diplomatic etiquette, the Congress on Sunday urged the Centre to embarrass Islamabad globally as the greatest exporter of terrorism.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Pakistan declaring a part of this country to be searching for azadi is failure of the Indian Government's foreign policy, adding it is high time that the Centre send our ambassadors and representatives to each country of the world with concrete evidences to show Islamabad as the greatest exporter of terrorism.

"Pakistan will of course have to wait for crore of years, for millennia to even consider to its wish being fulfilled, which they have expressed as the year of Kashmir azadi. But we have to introspect and see how we have failed to get Pakistan isolated globally. We should send our ambassadors and representatives to each country of the world with concrete evidences of tape, videos and documents to show Pakistan as the greatest exporter of terrorism," said Singhvi.

"We need to embarrass them, isolate them and unfortunately I have to say this that this government, the government has been completely failing in this global ostracism effort and in the Indo-Pak bilateral effort. The statement is the greatest breach of diplomatic etiquette but it is also failure of Indian government`s foreign policy and Indo-Pak policy," he added.

Singhvi further advised the BJP-led Government at the Centre to stall its interaction with Pakistan until it tenders an apology for making such statements.

"Normally one would not give importance to such comments but when it comes from the Ambassador, the High Commissioner of a nation it has full official flavor and color to it. I think Pakistan is no business to be interacted with unless this official declaration is withdrawn; apologies are offered and on sovereign soil of this country to declare a part of this country to be searching for Azadi, said Singhvi.

"It is also vital that we repeat and reiterate our policy as for the Parliament resolution remains the same that whole of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladhak including PoK is ours," he added.Basit earlier today said Islamabad has dedicated the 70th Independence Day to the freedom of Kashmir.

Basit said Pakistan has always made efforts to improve its relationship with India."As far as the relation of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we dedicate this year's Independence Day to Kashmir`s freedom. We are confident that the sacrifices made by the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be successful," Basit said.

He asserted Pakistan has always given moral support to Jammu and Kashmir`s freedom struggle and would continue to do so.

"Struggle for independence will continue till Kashmir gets freedom; sacrifice of the people of Kashmir will not go in vain," he said.

India summoned Basit on August 9th amid growing tension between the two nations over the violence in Kashmir. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar called Basit to his office and lodged a strong protest over the issue as he made a specific reference to LeT terrorist and Pakistan national Bahadur Ali, who was captured recently in North Kashmir during an encounter.