SRINAGAR: India on Tuesday strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan, reiterating that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi categorically rejected the “unwarranted references” to Jammu and Kashmir made in the joint statement between China and Pakistan.
He asserted that India’s position on the matter remains consistent and well known to the concerned parties.
“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same,” the spokesperson said.
The Ministry also reiterated its firm opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stating that several projects under the corridor are located in India’s sovereign territory.
Jaiswal said India resolutely opposes and rejects any attempt by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, terming such moves a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said India’s position on the issue has been clearly conveyed to both Pakistani and Chinese authorities on multiple occasions.
The MEA also objected to references in the joint statement concerning “trans-boundary water resources cooperation” between China and Pakistan.
The spokesperson said such a claim was baseless as the two countries do not share any boundary. He further reiterated that India has never recognised the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China.
The response from New Delhi came after a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan described the Kashmir issue as “left over from history” and called for its resolution through peaceful means under the framework of the United Nations Security Council.
