Govt dismisses Sharif's suggestion for plebiscite in J&K

New Delhi: The government on Monday dismissed Pakistan's suggestion for holding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir saying the territory is an integral part of India and blamed the neighbouring country for allowing its land to be used for terror activities.

"Kashmir is an internal issue. It is an integral part of India," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters here.

He was replying to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and asking for holding of plebiscite in the state.

Rijiju blamed Pakistan for allowing its territory to be used by terrorist organisations for their acts directed against India.

"Our issue is terrorism and how Pakistan's land is used for terror acts directed against India," he said.

Sharif met Ban before his speech to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations yesterday.

According to the Pakistan mission, Sharif urged the Secretary General to play a role in defusing tension between Pakistan and India and to help end alleged violations at the Line of Control.

Sharif called for implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute and holding of plebiscite to determine the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Ban stressed on the need for a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve tension between them.