New Delhi: 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, and asserting that no other nation has any locus standi to comment on the matter.
Responding to media queries regarding references to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position on the issue is consistent and well known.
“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 & 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 further stated that India firmly opposes any attempts by other countries to legitimise Pakistan’s “illegal occupation” of territories associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling such moves a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“With regard to 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,” he said, adding that this position has been repeatedly conveyed to both Pakistani and Chinese authorities.
Jaiswal also noted that India has never recognised the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between China and Pakistan.
Referring to mentions of “trans-boundary water resources cooperation” in the joint statement, he said such references were baseless as China and Pakistan do not share a boundary. “India has never recognised the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China,” he added.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a statement following talks between Xi Jinping and Shehbaz Sharif during the Pakistani Prime Minister’s four-day visit to China, which concluded on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Pakistan briefed the Chinese leadership on the “latest developments” in Jammu and Kashmir.
It further stated that the Chinese side reiterated its position that the Jammu and Kashmir issue is a “leftover from history” and should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the United Nations Charter, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements.