India rejects Pakistan’s ‘Youm-e-Istehsal’ remarks, tells Islamabad to address its own conduct in POK

New Delhi: India on Wednesday dismissed Pakistan’s latest remarks marking the so-called Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation), describing them as politically motivated propaganda and reiterating that Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of the country. New Delhi also accused Islamabad of attempting to divert international attention from its own domestic record on human rights and terrorism.

Responding to media queries, the Ministry of External Affairs said Pakistan’s annual observance of Youm-e-Istehsal was a “political absurdity” aimed at spreading misinformation about India. The ministry said Islamabad had no standing to comment on constitutional and administrative decisions that fall entirely within India’s sovereign jurisdiction.

The MEA spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated that the constitutional changes introduced on August 5, 2019, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the former state into the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, were internal matters. It maintained that the changes had resulted in improved governance, socio-economic development and greater democratic participation in the region.

India’s response came as Pakistan once again used the anniversary of the August 5, 2019 constitutional changes to criticize New Delhi’s policy in Jammu & Kashmir. Islamabad observes the day annually as Youm-e-Istehsal to protest India’s decision to revoke the erstwhile state’s special constitutional status.

Escalating its criticism, New Delhi accused Pakistan of using the issue to distract from what it described as its deteriorating human rights situation and continuing links to cross-border terrorism. The MEA said Pakistan’s allegations against India lacked credibility in light of its own record, characterizing the country as the global epicentre of terrorism and accusing it of repeatedly attempting to mislead the international community.

The ministry also drew attention to recent developments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), alleging that Pakistani security forces had used lethal force and imposed sweeping restrictions to suppress peaceful civil rights protests. It said such actions exposed what it described as the contradiction between Pakistan’s international rhetoric and its domestic conduct.

India further urged Pakistan to take “credible, verifiable and irreversible” action against terrorist groups operating from territory under its control. It also reiterated its longstanding position that Pakistan should vacate Indian territories under what New Delhi describes as its illegal occupation.

The sharp exchange reflects the continued diplomatic sparring between the two neighbours over Jammu & Kashmir, an issue that has remained at the centre of bilateral tensions for decades. Since the constitutional changes of August 2019, India has consistently maintained that the matter is closed and that discussions with Pakistan can only focus on terrorism and the return of territories under Pakistan’s occupation.