Islamabad: Amidst international calls not to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan on August 5 said in no way could it influence the polls in the state and criticised India for not allowing foreign observers.

The question of Pakistan manipulating the elections did not arise because of heavy presence of Indian troops in the Valley, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan told reporters.

He admitted that the international opinion currently favoured holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir but maintained these were no substitute to Islamabad's demand for plebiscite.

He, however, said "Pakistan can in no way influence the election one way or the other".

On the issue of foreign observers, he said it was obvious that "there is something they (India) want to hide. That is the reason they are not allowing foreign observers which is quite customary these days".

Asked about the newly-appointed Kashmir Committee headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, the spokesman said, "We have not received any detailed report. All we have seen is what has appeared in the press."

PTI