With Pakistan deciding to downgrade bilateral relations with India over abrogation of Article 370, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said the neighbouring country's move was an attempt to present an alarming picture to the world.

Calling Pakistan's decision short-sighted, India said the stance was not based on facts. "The intention behind such measures is obviously to present an alarming picture to the world of our bilateral ties. The reasons cited by Pakistan are not supported by facts on the ground," the MEA said in a statement on Thursday.

Ministry of External Affairs: The Government of India regrets the steps announced by Pakistan yesterday and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved. https://t.co/VRvMayP5N5

ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2019

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"The Government of India regrets the steps announced by Pakistan yesterday and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved," MEA said.

Reiterating India's stand, MEA said, "The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India. The Constitution of India was, is and will always be a sovereign matter. Seeking to interfere in that jurisdiction by invoking an alarmist vision of the region will never succeed."

The statement by MEA came a day after Pakistan expelled Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria following its decision to downgrade the diplomatic ties with India over what it called New Delhi's "unilateral and illegal" move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

This was announced after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a crucial meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), attended by top civil and military leadership, during which it was also decided to suspend the bilateral trade and review the "bilateral arrangements".