London: Senior Indian lawyer Harish Salve on Wednesday endorsed Narendra Modi government's decision to revoke Article 370 to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as a means of correcting a "mistake". He described Pakistan's reaction to the move as a sign of "complete bankruptcy" because Kashmir is an integral part of India where they were "squatting". Tensions between the two countries have spiked since India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

#Article370 was a mistake & it was amended by withdrawing the special status accorded to J&K said senior advocate #HarishSalve expressing support to the #NarendraModi government's decision to revoke the provisions of the article and making it a dead letter in the #Constitution. pic.twitter.com/lJThO4JdVQ

— IANS Tweets (@ians_india) October 3, 2019

India's decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian ambassador. Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue after India withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, but New Delhi has asserted the abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter". Salve said, "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is Indian, they (Pakistan) are squatting there. If there is any disputed territory (in the region), it is PoK. The Kashmir Constitution says Kashmir is an integral part of India, not just the Indian Constitution. Kashmir being an integral part of India has never been in doubt, except in certain Pakistani minds."