UNITED NATIONS, Oct 1: India’s external affairs minister slammed Pakistan at the United Nations on Monday for raising the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

S.M. Krishna told the General Assembly that India had resumed dialogue with Pakistan and wanted to normalise relations. But he severely criticised a speech made by President Asif Ali Zardari last week, saying Pakistan had no business meddling in “India’s predominantly Muslim state of Jammu and Kashmir”.

“An unwarranted reference has been made to Jammu and Kashmir from this podium,” he said, adding, “We wish to make it abundantly clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.”

Mr Zardari said in his speech that Kashmir remained “a symbol of the failures of the United Nations system rather than its strengths”.—AP