New Delhi, India on Thursday strongly rejected "inappropriate" references to Jammu and Kashmir in the latest joint statement by China and Pakistan and said the Union Territory and Ladakh "always have been, are and will remain its integral parts".
The joint statement was issued in Beijing on June 7 following talks between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have noted the inappropriate references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the June 7 joint statement between China and Pakistan. We categorically reject such references."
He said, "Our position on this issue is consistent and well known to the parties concerned. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always be integral and inseparable parts of India."
Jaiswal was answering a media question on the joint statement.
“No other country has the right to comment on this,” Jaiswal said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also took strong note of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) included in the joint statement.
"The same joint statement also mentions activities and projects under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), some of which are in India's sovereign territory under forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan," he said.
"We strongly oppose and reject any move by other countries to impinge on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity to strengthen or legitimize Pakistan's illegal occupation of these territories," Jaiswal said.
The joint statement was issued in Beijing on June 7 following talks between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have noted the inappropriate references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the June 7 joint statement between China and Pakistan. We categorically reject such references."
He said, "Our position on this issue is consistent and well known to the parties concerned. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always be integral and inseparable parts of India."
Jaiswal was answering a media question on the joint statement.
“No other country has the right to comment on this,” Jaiswal said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also took strong note of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) included in the joint statement.
"The same joint statement also mentions activities and projects under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), some of which are in India's sovereign territory under forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan," he said.
"We strongly oppose and reject any move by other countries to impinge on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity to strengthen or legitimize Pakistan's illegal occupation of these territories," Jaiswal said.
