New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) India on Thursday categorically rejected unwarranted references to the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the joint statement between China and Pakistan and said the territories are an integral part of India and no other country has the locus standi to comment on them.
The statement by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, also rejected references in the joint statement to India’s sovereign territory under forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The statement read:
“We have noted unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in the joint statement between China and Pakistan of 07 June 2024.
“We categorically reject such references. Our position on the issue is consistent and well known to the concerned parties. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of 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 same joint statement also mentions activities and projects under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), some of which are in India’s sovereign territory under forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan.
“We resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The joint statement, issued during Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China while referring to J&K, had said: “The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.”
