New Delhi: India on Tuesday categorically rejected the “unwarranted references” to Jammu and Kashmir in the recent joint statement by 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,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.
“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,” he added.
“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 recognised the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China,” MEA further stated.
India’s response came after the China-Pakistan statement described the Kashmir issue as “left over from history”, and called for its resolution through peaceful means under the UN Security Council framework.
The joint statement followed talks between Chinese President Xi Jin Ping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on May 25 during the latter’s four-day visit to China.
The statement, which was issued by Pakistan’s foreign office, said Sharif’s delegation briefed China on the “latest developments” Jammu and Kashmir. China reiterated its longstanding position that the dispute should be “properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements”.
