India on Wednesday strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan, asserting that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country.
Responding to media queries regarding the joint statement between China and Pakistan, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects the “unwarranted references” made to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“India’s position is consistent and well known to the concerned parties. The Union Territories of Jammu & 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,” Jaiswal said.
India also reiterated its strong opposition to the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects that pass through territories claimed by India.
The MEA spokesperson said some of the CPEC projects are located in India’s sovereign territory under Pakistan’s “illegal and forcible occupation,” and stressed that India firmly opposes any attempts by other countries to legitimise such actions.
“As regards the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, some of which are in India’s sovereign territory, we resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times,” Jaiswal said.
He added that India’s concerns on the issue have been conveyed to both Chinese and Pakistani authorities on several occasions.
India also objected to references in the joint statement regarding “trans-boundary water resources cooperation” between China and Pakistan.
Jaiswal said the claim was baseless, as China and Pakistan do not share a boundary.
“We have also seen references to the so-called ‘trans-boundary water resources cooperation’ between China and Pakistan. As the two countries do not share any boundary, the question of so-called ‘trans-boundary water resources cooperation’ does not arise,” he said.
The MEA spokesperson further reiterated that India has never recognized the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China.
