In a rare show of cross-party appreciation, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has praised the Modi government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, calling it a move that ended a longstanding problem in Jammu and Kashmir. Khurshid is currently part of a government-led, multi-party delegation visiting five countries to clarify India’s stance on terrorism and regional security.

Speaking from Indonesia, the former External Affairs Minister acknowledged that the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 helped bring Kashmir closer to the mainstream of India, citing increased prosperity and a reinvigorated democratic process in the region.

“It Would Not Be Appropriate to Undo This Progress”

Highlighting the recent 65% voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir’s assembly elections, Khurshid emphasized that there is now an elected government working for the people. “What has been done for the people, the prosperity that has come to Kashmir — it would not be appropriate to undo it,” he said.

He argued that Article 370 once gave the impression that Kashmir was separate from the rest of India, and its removal has fundamentally changed that narrative. “A major problem in Kashmir has ended,” Khurshid stated, acknowledging the decision’s long-term significance.

Diplomatic Outreach in Asia

Khurshid is part of a delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The mission aims to engage with foreign policymakers and brief them on India’s evolving regional security posture, including Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure across the border.