Bula Devi reports from New Delhi
New Delhi June 14, 2024:
Emphatically rejecting a reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the recent joint statement of China and Pakistan, India termed it as “unwarranted” and said no other country has the “locus standi” to comment on what is an “integral and inalienable” part of the country.
The joint statement was issued on June 7 following talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing.
In a strongly worded statement in response to media queries, the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday expressed deep anguish at the arrogance of the other side.
“We have noted unwarranted references” to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement between China and Pakistan, said Jaiswal in the statement adding, “We categorically reject such references”.
Saying that India’s position on the issue is “consistent and well known” to the parties concerned, the official spokesperson asserted, “The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India.”
India, while digging its heels on the issue, sharply pointed out that “No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same.”
China and Pakistan periodically come out with joint statements having references to Jammu and Kashmir and they are stoutly rejected by India. In November 2022 as well as March 2020 references to Jammu and Kashmir were made and subsequently India reaffirmed its position.
India also objected to the mention of activities and projects under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the joint statement as parts of the corridor “are in India’s sovereign territory under the forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan”.
Spokesperson Jaiswal reaffirmed, “We resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal occupation of these territories, impinging on India’ sovereign and territorial integrity.” ENDS
TAGS Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal# Jammu and Kashmir# Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif# Chinese Premier Li Qiang#
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