India Rejects China-Pakistan J&K Remarks, Terms CPEC Illegal

India has issued a strong and categorical rejection of a recent joint statement released by China and Pakistan, which included what New Delhi described as 'unwarranted references' to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), through its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, firmly stated on Tuesday that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh 'have been, are and will always remain' integral and inalienable parts of India. The MEA emphasised that no other country has the 'locus standi' to comment on India's internal matters. The diplomatic pushback came after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China from May 23-26, during which a joint statement was issued. This statement reportedly described the Kashmir issue as 'left over from history' and called for its peaceful resolution in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements. The Pakistani side had also briefed the Chinese side on the 'latest developments' in Jammu and Kashmir. Beyond the remarks on J&K, India also reiterated its resolute opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. New Delhi highlighted that certain CPEC projects are situated in territories that India claims are under Pakistan's 'illegal and forcible occupation.' The MEA spokesperson asserted that India 'resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan's illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' India has consistently conveyed these serious concerns to both Pakistani and Chinese authorities on multiple occasions. The joint China-Pakistan statement also made references to 'trans-boundary water resources cooperation' between the two nations. India dismissed these references, pointing out that China and Pakistan do not share a direct boundary, thereby making such cooperation untenable from New Delhi's perspective. Furthermore, India reaffirmed its long-standing position of never recognising the 'so-called 1963 boundary agreement' signed between Pakistan and China, under which Pakistan ceded the Shaksgam Valley to China. India has consistently maintained that this agreement is invalid as the territory legally belongs to India. This robust response from India underscores its consistent and unwavering stance on its territorial integrity and sovereignty. India views any third-party intervention or comments on Jammu and Kashmir as unacceptable, considering it a sovereign matter. Similarly, its objections to CPEC are rooted in the fact that the corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India considers its integral part. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a flagship project of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to connect China's Xinjiang region with Pakistan's Gwadar Port, enhancing regional connectivity and trade. However, its route through disputed territory remains a significant point of contention for India, leading to repeated diplomatic protests. The timing of India's strong rebuttal indicates its commitment to safeguarding its territorial claims and diplomatic principles, particularly in response to any joint assertions by China and Pakistan that challenge India's established positions. The issue of J&K remains a sensitive and core issue in India's foreign policy, with the Indian government consistently maintaining that discussions, if any, must be bilateral and exclude third parties. The reiteration of India's position on both J&K and CPEC serves as a clear message to Beijing and Islamabad regarding the inviolability of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The uniformity in reporting across major Indian news outlets further highlights the national consensus and firm governmental stance on these critical geopolitical matters.

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