India Rejects Reference To Kashmir In Pakistan-China Press Statement

India on Thursday strongly rejected references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a recent joint press statement by Pakistan and China and asserted that the union territory as well as Ladakh have been and will remain its integral and inalienable part.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also objected to reference made to the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the statement, saying it is in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan.

“As in the past, India categorically rejects any reference to Jammu and Kashmir. The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the union territory of Ladakh has been and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” Bagchi said at a media briefing. On reference to the CPEC in the joint press statement, the spokesperson said India has consistently conveyed to both China and Pakistan that the so-called CPEC is in India’s territory.