New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): India on Tuesday strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan, stating that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India and that no other country has the locus standi to comment on the matter.
Responding to media queries regarding references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the China-Pakistan joint statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position remains consistent and well known to the concerned parties.
“India categorically rejects unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Joint Statement between China and Pakistan. India’s position is 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,” Jaiswal said.
He also reiterated India’s opposition to projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that pass through territories claimed by India.
“As regards the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, some of which are in India’s sovereign territory, we resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimize Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Jaiswal said.
“This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times,” he added.
Jaiswal also rejected references to what was described as “trans-boundary water resources cooperation” between China and Pakistan.
“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. India has never recognized the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China,” he said.
The statement from the Ministry of External Affairs came after Pakistan’s Foreign Office released a joint statement following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Sharif concluded a four-day visit to China on Tuesday.
According to the statement issued by Pakistan, Islamabad briefed the Chinese side on the “latest developments” 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 U.N. Charter, relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements,” the statement said. (ANI)
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