New Delhi, May 26: Recently, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited China, where he met with President Xi Jinping. Following their discussions, a joint statement was issued by both nations that inappropriately mentioned the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has responded firmly to this statement.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “India clearly rejects the unwarranted mention of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement by China and Pakistan. India’s position remains consistent, and the concerned parties are well aware of it. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have always been, and will continue to be, an integral and inseparable part of India. No other country has the right to comment on this matter.”
During Sharif’s visit, discussions also focused on advancing cooperation in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In this context, Jaiswal emphasized, “Regarding CPEC projects, some of which lie within India’s sovereign territory, India strongly opposes and rejects any steps that seek to reinforce or legitimize Pakistan’s illegal occupation. Such actions affect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This stance has been clearly communicated to both Pakistan and China multiple times.”
The Ministry also noted, “We have observed the mention of ‘Trans-Boundary Water Resource Cooperation’ between China and Pakistan. Since the two countries do not share a boundary, the question of such cooperation does not arise. India has never recognized the 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China.”
A significant agreement was made in 1963 regarding cross-border water resource cooperation, under which Pakistan ceded part of the Shaksgam Valley in its occupied territory of Kashmir to China. India has never acknowledged this agreement.
In the joint statement, Prime Minister Sharif referred to the Jammu and Kashmir issue as a pending matter tied to history. The statement suggested that the resolution should occur peacefully under the auspices of United Nations Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. It also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in South Asia and resolving disputes through dialogue.
Pakistan has a long-standing habit of raising the Jammu and Kashmir issue on international platforms and seeking third-party discussions. The reality is that Pakistan knows it cannot stand against India, which is why it seeks support internationally. India has consistently maintained that the Jammu and Kashmir issue is a domestic matter that does not require external intervention.
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