MEA summons Pakistan envoy over ‘Gilgit-baltistan order’

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move relating to administrative authority over the Gilgit-baltistan region, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation" has no legal basis. In a statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it conveyed to Shah that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

It said the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to India was summoned and a strong protest was made against Pakistan's so-called "Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018". Through its order on Gilgit-Baltistan on May 21, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi seized more authority from the local council to deal with the affairs of the region. Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order.

"Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the MEA said. According to some Pakistani media reports, the 'Gilgit-baltistan Order 2018' provides for devolution of greater financial powers to the areas. The ministry said it was also conveyed to the Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner that such actions can neither hide the "illegal occupation" of part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir nor the "grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom" to the people residing in Pakistan-occupied territories for the past seven decades.