New Delhi, August 1: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed on Friday that the entire Jammu and Kashmir region, including Jammu, Kashmir, and the Union Territory of Ladakh, is an integral and inseparable part of India. The MEA urged all partner countries and relevant parties to use the correct terminology when referring to this area.
When asked about the misrepresentation of the legal status of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) by some foreign media outlets while reporting on ongoing unrest and atrocities committed by Pakistani forces, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Our position is very clear: the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, which includes Jammu, Kashmir, and the Union Territory of Ladakh, is an integral and inseparable part of India. This is India’s stance.”
He added, “These areas have been part of India in the past, are part of India today, and will remain part of India in the future. We urge all our partners and relevant parties to use the same correct name and identity for this region as recognized by India.”
This response from the MEA came after the prominent American newspaper, The New York Times, incorrectly referred to the region while reporting on the ongoing unrest in POJK.
On July 29, the Indian Embassy in the United States objected to the headline of The New York Times report, describing it as “misleading and incorrect.” The embassy stated that Pakistan has illegally occupied these regions and is now using violence against the local population.
The Indian Embassy in the U.S. stated on the social media platform X, “The New York Times headline is misleading and incorrect. There is no such thing as ‘Pakistani Kashmir’; it is only Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inseparable parts of India, were, are, and will always be. Pakistan has illegally occupied parts of these regions and is now perpetrating violence against the people living there.”
Reports indicate that over 40 people have died and hundreds have been seriously injured during a long march organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in POJK.
Several videos circulating on social media, including those shared by local parties like the JAAC, depict alleged brutality and violence against civilians by Pakistani forces.
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