Pakistan has reacted strongly to Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid's statement on Kashmir, asking New Delhi to avoid negative propaganda. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Mr Khurshid had on Sunday reiterated India's stand of Kashmir being its integral part. He said that no external intervention will be tolerated on the issue, and it is a "waste of time on the part of anybody to try to question it."

Following is the full statement issued by Pakistan's foreign office:

Expressing disappointment at the comments by the Indian External Affairs Minister on the status of Jammu & Kashmir, appearing in a section of the Indian media, the Spokesperson stated that the Kashmir dispute is the core issue that remains unresolved between the two countries.

It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to refer to the state of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India, when the reality is clearly otherwise.

As a member of the United Nations, India should not overlook or undermine the numerous UN Security Council resolutions on this issue. While bilateral agreements may exist, the sanctity of the UN resolutions cannot be understated.

The Kashmir dispute remains a fundamental component of the bilateral dialogue process and resolution of this dispute is vital for maintaining peace and security in the region. India's continued intransigence over this issue is counterproductive and is unhelpful in the efforts to resolve this dispute.

Pakistan remains committed to a purposeful, constructive and result-oriented dialogue with India and believes that serious efforts need to be made in maintaining a positive atmosphere and avoid negative propaganda.
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