'Narrow-Minded Politics': India Condemns US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's PoK Visit

The US Congresswoman is currently on a four-day visit to Pakistan. She has met Imran Khan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A file photo of US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (Getty Images)

New Delhi: The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday condemned the visit of US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), saying it reflected her "narrow-minded" politics.

In his weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "We have noted that she has visited a part of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan. Let me just say that if such a politician wishes to practice her narrow-minded politics...that may be her business."

"But violating our territorial integrity and sovereignty in its pursuit makes this ours and we think the visit is condemnable," he said.

The US Congresswoman is currently on a four-day visit to Pakistan. She has met former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and present Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also visited Muzaffarabad in PoK.

Omar, a Muslim-American who represents Minnesota in the US House of Representatives, also called on Pakistan President Arif Alvi.

Omar's visit to Pakistan comes days after Imran Khan accused the US of plotting his ouster with the help of Pakistan's Opposition parties. 

When asked on the recent terror attacks in Afghanistan, Bagchi said India was keeping an eye into the developments in the country.

READ | More Than 10 Dead, Over 50 Injured As Massive Blast Hits Mosque In Mazar-e-Sharif

"We have seen some of the terrorist attacks. We have always been forthright in our condemnation of terrorist attacks. We are looking at what has been the developments there," Bagchi said.

"But let me emphasise that we certainly condemn all terrorist attacks," he said. 

At least 16 people were killed in bomb attacks in two Afghan cities on Thursday. While 12 people died following a blast at a mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif in Balkh province, which has been claimed by the Islamic State group, four died in Kunduz after a bomb hidden in a bicycle went off.

On Tuesday, two blasts outside a school in Kabul killed at least six people and wounded 25 others.