New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India on Tuesday strongly rejected what it termed as “unwarranted references” to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the recent joint statement issued by China and Pakistan, reiterating that Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position on the matter remains firm and well known to all concerned parties.
He stated that India categorically rejects any reference made to Jammu & Kashmir in the joint statement, emphasizing that no external country has any locus standi to comment on issues related to India’s sovereign territory.
The spokesperson asserted that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have always been, and will continue to remain, inseparable parts of India.
Addressing references to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing objection to projects passing through territory that India considers illegally occupied by Pakistan.
He said India firmly opposes and rejects any attempt by other nations to endorse or legitimize Pakistan’s unlawful occupation of these areas, adding that such actions directly infringe upon India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Ministry of External Affairs also noted that these concerns have been communicated to both Chinese and Pakistani authorities on multiple occasions.
India further objected to references in the joint statement regarding so-called “trans-boundary water resources cooperation” between China and Pakistan.
The spokesperson clarified that since China and Pakistan do not share any officially recognized boundary in the concerned region, any such claims are baseless. He added that India has never recognized the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China.
The sharp response from New Delhi underlines India’s continued opposition to any international remarks or agreements that touch upon territories it considers an integral part of the nation.
