Pakistan on Monday rejected the Supreme Court of India’s verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, asserting that the ruling holds “no legal value” under international law. Islamabad maintained that the global community does not recognize India’s “unilateral and illegal actions” of August 5, 2019, which revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the Indian government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, which had granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, a move that has been a major point of contention between India and Pakistan.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pakistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani criticized the verdict, stating that “international law doesn’t recognize India’s unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019.” He further added, “The judicial endorsement by the Indian Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”
Reactions from Pakistani Leadership
The verdict also drew sharp criticism from Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif. He condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling, labeling it a “biased decision” that undermines international norms. Sharif argued that the Indian Supreme Court has violated international law by ruling against United Nations resolutions related to the Kashmir issue.
“The Indian Supreme Court has betrayed the sacrifice of millions of Kashmiris,” Sharif said, referring to the long-standing conflict over the region. He further added that the decision would only strengthen Kashmir’s “freedom movement” and that there would be “no abatement in the Kashmiri struggle.”
Sharif, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from April 2022 to August 2023, emphasized that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N will continue to advocate for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination at all levels.
The Kashmir Issue and Relations Between India and Pakistan
Kashmir has long been a flashpoint in the strained relationship between India and Pakistan, which have fought multiple wars over the disputed region. The two nuclear-armed neighbors’ ties deteriorated significantly after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, a move that Pakistan condemned as illegal under international law. Following the abrogation, Pakistan expelled India’s envoy and downgraded diplomatic and trade relations.
Pakistan continues to assert that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be granted the right to self-determination as per United Nations Security Council resolutions. On the other hand, India has consistently maintained that the revocation of Article 370 is an internal matter and that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.
India has also accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism and has stated that normalizing relations between the two countries is only possible in an environment free of terrorism, violence, and hostility. The Indian government has repeatedly emphasized that any resolution of the Kashmir issue must respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As tensions remain high, both countries continue to assert their respective claims over Kashmir, with Pakistan’s rejection of the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict underscoring the persistent diplomatic rift over the region.