Pakistan trying to present alarming picture by downgrading diplomatic ties: India

A day after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India, the ministry of external affairs in a statement said that Pakistan's intention was to present an "alarming picture to the world of our bilateral ties".

Pakistan on Wednesday had announced that it will be downgrading diplomatic ties with India. In a follow-up move, the Imran Khan government also expelled Indian envoy to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and said that the new Pakistan high commissioner to India Moin-ul-Haq won't be sent to Delhi.

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Pakistan's move came in the wake of the Indian government's decision to scrap Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

India's ministry of external affairs said the recent decisions by the government and Parliament were driven by a commitment to extend opportunities to Jammu and Kashmir for development which were earlier denied by the temporary provision in the Constitution.

"It is not surprising that such developmental initiatives that could address any disaffection in Jammu and Kashmir should be negatively perceived in Pakistan, which has utilised such sentiments to justify its cross-border terrorism," the external affairs ministry said.

"The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India," the statement added.

"The government regrets the steps announced by Pakistan on Wednesday and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved," the external affairs ministry asserted.

In a related development, Islamabad also partially closed its airspace with India on the eastern front. At least three entry points out of the nine between India and Pakistan on the eastern were closed, according to reports.

The airspace will be closed from August 6 to September 5 between 02:45 to 11:00(Pakistan Standard Time) every day except Sundays.