Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 26: India on Tuesday strongly objected to references made to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after high-level talks in Beijing, asserting that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are inseparable parts of the country.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India firmly rejects what it described as “unwarranted references” concerning Jammu and Kashmir in the China-Pakistan statement.
He reiterated that India’s position on the matter has remained unchanged and clearly communicated to all concerned nations.
“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India,” Jaiswal stated, adding that no external country has any authority to comment on the issue.
The remarks came after meetings held in Beijing between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which both sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening the China-Pakistan strategic partnership.
Chinese officials reportedly emphasised accelerating the development of a closer China-Pakistan community with a “shared future” under ongoing regional cooperation initiatives.
Separately, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
India has consistently opposed CPEC, maintaining that parts of the corridor pass through territory illegally occupied by Pakistan, thereby violating India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reiterating New Delhi’s stance, the MEA spokesperson said India strongly opposes any attempt by other countries to legitimise Pakistan’s “illegal and forcible occupation” of Indian territory through such projects.
Jaiswal added that India has repeatedly conveyed its objections regarding CPEC to both Chinese and Pakistani authorities.
The MEA also objected to references in the joint statement regarding “trans-boundary water resources cooperation” between China and Pakistan.
India pointed out that China and Pakistan do not share a direct boundary recognised by India and therefore such references hold no validity from New Delhi’s perspective.
Jaiswal further stated that India has never accepted the 1963 boundary agreement signed between Pakistan and China concerning territories claimed by India.