Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Omar Abdullah rebuffs Pakistan's Article 370 criticism, cites PoJK violations
India and Pakistan are neighboring countries that both care about a mountain region called Jammu and Kashmir.
In 2019, India removed a special rule called Article 370 that gave the region extra powers.
Pakistan's leader, Shehbaz Sharif, was angry about this and called it a bad decision.
He named the day it happened the 'day of exploitation.'
Omar Abdullah, the leader of the part of Jammu and Kashmir that India runs, answered back.
He said what India did is India's own business and Pakistan should not interfere.
He also said Pakistan should look at the part of Kashmir that it controls, where he says people are being mistreated and killed.
He wants Pakistan to fix those problems before criticizing anyone else.
He said the region will settle its own issues with India's central government in a fair and legal way.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's criticism of the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
Abdullah said the decision is India's internal matter and Pakistan has 'nothing to do' with it, urging Pakistan to stop interfering.
Pakistan, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, marked August 5 as 'Youm-e-Istehsal' (day of exploitation).
Abdullah alleged serious human rights violations, including killings allegedly by Pakistan's Rangers, in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir's internal issues will be addressed within India's democratic and constitutional framework.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
- What
- Abdullah rebuffed Pakistan's criticism of the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and alleged human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- Around the 7th anniversary of the August 5, 2019 abrogation; the articles differ on the day of his remarks — one says Thursday, the other Friday.
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir, India, concerning territory described as Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
- Why
- Pakistan marked the abrogation's anniversary as 'Youm-e-Istehsal' (day of exploitation); Abdullah called the decision an internal Indian matter and said Pakistan should instead address alleged rights violations in territory under its control.
Omar Abdullah / India's position
Pakistan's position
Article 370 abrogation
Omar Abdullah / India's position
The 2019 decision is an internal matter of India; Pakistan has 'nothing to do' with it and should stop interfering.
Pakistan's position
Pakistan describes the abrogation as a human rights violation, marking August 5 annually as 'Youm-e-Istehsal' (day of exploitation).
Human rights in Kashmir
Omar Abdullah / India's position
Serious human rights violations, including killings allegedly by Rangers, are taking place in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which Pakistan should address.
Pakistan's position
Pakistan criticizes India's actions in Jammu and Kashmir, describing the August 5, 2019 decision as a human rights violation.
- Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
- Omar Abdullah
- Pakistan Prime Minister
- Shehbaz Sharif
- Pakistan Foreign Minister
- Ishaq Dar
- Date of Article 370 abrogation
- August 5, 2019
- Anniversary referenced
- 7th anniversary (2026)
- Pakistan's observance
- 'Youm-e-Istehsal' (day of exploitation)
- Abdullah's allegation
- Human rights violations, including killings allegedly by Rangers, in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir
- Reported by
- The Telegraph Online (syndicated feed)
