India rejects joint statement by Pak, China on Kashmir

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday rejected a reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and China over the weekend, saying the region was an “integral part” of the country.

The joint statement, issued on Sunday after a visit by Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, to Islamabad, said China is opposed to “any unilateral actions” in Kashmir.

This was the second time since India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5 that Beijing has said New Delhi should avoid actions that “unilaterally change the status quo”. The Indian government has described the changes in Kashmir as an internal matter.

Responding to the joint statement, external affairs ministry spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said: “We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan… Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.”

Kumar noted that India has “consistently expressed concerns” to China and Pakistan over the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, “which is in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947”. He added, “India is resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in Pakistan-occupied J&K. We call on the parties concerned to cease such actions.”

China has supported Pakistan against the backdrop of its tensions with India over the Kashmir issue. The Indian side had made its position clear to China in this regard by pointing out the new Union territory of Ladakh has no implications for India’s external boundaries or the Line of Actual Control and India isn’t making any territorial claims.