India's government on Monday revoked Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees the special status of Indian-controlled Kashmir, the most far-reaching move in nearly seven decades on the Himalayan region which is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both in full. 

Indian Home Minister (Internal Security) Amit Shah made the proposal in the parliament's upper house on Monday. In a subsequent order, India's president approved the government's changes. 

"The entire constitution will be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir state," Shah said, ending the state's rights to make its own laws. 

According to the article, Indian-controlled Kashmir is accorded a special status which means that all provisions laid down in the Indian Constitution are not applicable there.

Presently, except for areas such defense, foreign affairs, finance and communications, the Indian Parliament needs the Indian-controlled Kashmir government's concurrence for applying all other laws.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had long pushed for an end to Kashmir's special constitutional status, arguing that such laws had hindered its integration with the rest of the country. 

Some political leaders in Kashmir warned in recent days that any such move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration - through the repeal of the constitution's Article 370 - will trigger major unrest as it would amount to aggression against the region's people.

Broader crackdown

Monday's announcement came hours after authorities launched a new clampdown in the state of Jammu and Kashmir by suspending telephone and internet services and putting some leaders under house arrest around midnight.

The government also lifted a ban on property purchases by people from outside Jammu and Kashmir, opening the way for Indians to invest and settle there like any other part of India, a measure likely to provoke a backlash in the territory.

Former chief minister of Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti tweeted the latest move was the "darkest day in Indian democracy".

"Unilateral decision of GOI (government of India) to scrap Article 370 is illegal & unconstitutional which will make India an occupational force in J&K (Jammu and Kashmir)," she added.

Pakistan condemns 'illegal' India step in Kashmir

Pakistan said on Monday it "strongly condemns" India's decision to revoke the special status for its portion of the Kashmir region claimed by both countries.

"No unilateral step by the Government of India can change this disputed status... As the party to this international dispute, Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that the move, which Islamabad "strongly rejects and condemns", will not "ever be acceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan". 

"Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination," the statement said. 

(With inputs from agencies)