India Raises Concerns Over CPEC Operations In Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Asks China And Pakistan To Cease Projects

India has raised concerns over the on-going projects that are parts of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and has demanded than China and Pakistan bring them to a halt, The Hindu reports.

"India is resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. We call on the parties concerned to cease such actions," Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The MEA statement was issued after a visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Pakistan over the weekend to discuss regional issues. The visit came in the backdrop of Pakistan continuing to try getting attention from other countries towards the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K which India maintains is an internal matter.

“We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister. J&K is an integral part of India. India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on the projects in so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is on the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947,” the statement by the MEA read.