India strongly denies reference to Jammu and Kashmir in China-Pakistan joint statement

India on June 13 strongly rejected the “unwarranted” reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the latest China-Pakistan joint statement, and asserted that the union territory and Ladakh “has been, is and will continue to be” an integral part of India.

The joint statement was released in Beijing on June 7 following a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

“The June 7 joint statement between China and Pakistan made unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. We categorically reject such references,” foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said.

“Our stand on this issue has been consistent and is well known to the stakeholders. The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have always been and will continue to be an integral and indivisible part of India,” he said.

Jaiswal was replying to media queries regarding the joint statement.

“Other countries are not authorised to comment on this,” Jaiswal said.

The MEA spokesperson also highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which was mentioned 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 located inside Indian territory which is under Pakistan’s forcible and illegal occupation,” he said.

“We firmly oppose and reject any attempt by any other country to strengthen or justify Pakistan’s illegal occupation of these territories which violates India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Jaiswal said.