US says India did not inform nor consult about Article 370 move

Washington rebuffed media reports on Wednesday that it had been informed or consulted by India on the Article 370 revocation.

A day after India revoked Article 370 of the constitution that granted special status to the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region, media reports started doing the rounds that Washington knew well in advance of India’s intentions.

ThePrint claimed that two days after the Pulwama attack and on August 1, India informed the US authorities that they planned to revoke Article 370 of the constitution.

However, the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs tweeted on Tuesday that the US was not informed by India.

“Contrary to press reporting, the Indian government did not consult or inform the US Government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status,” read the tweet.

Contrary to press reporting, the Indian government did not consult or inform the US Government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status. – AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) August 7, 2019

The NSC decided to suspend trade with India and downgrade diplomatic ties. Pakistan officially asked New Delhi to withdraw its High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria from Islamabad.

Hence, Pakistan will also not send its envoy Moinul Haq to India. Haq was supposed to begin his diplomatic duties in India from August 16.

The NSC decided to ban trade with India which stands at $2 billion. It yet remains to be seen which country the ban will have a larger effect on.

The move comes a day after the joint session of the parliament condemned India’s action to illegal annex the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.