Kashmir as serious as East Pakistan tragedy: Zardari

Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said the Indian government's decision to scrap special status for Jammu and Kashmir was as serious as the "East Pakistan tragedy".

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader made the comment while addressing a joint session of parliament for a second day to discuss Islamabad's future course of action in the wake of India's move on Kashmir.

"The Kashmir issue is the second major incident after the separation of East Pakistan. The Pakistan Peoples Party was formed for the cause of Kashmir. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, after negotiations, took back the land from (former Indian Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi," Zardari was quoted as saying by Geo News.

"India will be divided because of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's thinking. Muslims of India and occupied Kashmir now understand the two-nation theory of Quaid-e-Azam," Zardari said during the joint session.

"Does India not know there is tailor-made democracy in Pakistan?" he questioned.

"If this situation had happened during my tenure, I would have gone to the United Arab Emirates, China, Russia and Iran. We should keep our friends (close)."

"I am hopeful that Modi's thought process will itself lead to the disintegration of India as he has buried the secular India that Nehru and Gandhi had envisioned," said the former President.