Pakistan will reach out to the G20 countries particularly with which it has close ties in an attempt to stop India from holding any event or meeting of the grouping in the Indian Jammu and Kashmir. India is planning to host certain events of G20 in the disputed territory when it will host the summit meeting next year.
India is set to assume the presidency of G20 in December this year. India is part of the G20 grouping comprising major economies of the world including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. While Pakistan has already rejected the Indian move, official sources told The Express Tribune on Sunday that Islamabad would reach out to G20 countries on the issue.
Sources said Pakistan would particularly approach countries like China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to convey them their concerns. Islamabad would also speak to the US, the UK and other G20 members in order to counter Indian plans. Sources said India through hosting such events in the disputed territory is trying to portray normalcy in the disputed territory. If India succeeds, this will be the first international event in the disputed region since New Delhi unilaterally revoked the special status of the disputed territory on August 5, 2019.
The Indian move has deepened tensions with Pakistan, which strongly dismissed the changes and termed it violation of both international laws as well as bilateral understandings between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.