MEA Rejects J&K Reference In China-Pak Joint Statement, Says Change Of Status Quo In PoJK Not Acceptable

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday (10 September) rejected the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Islamabad.

The Chinese FM was on a two-day visit to Pakistan on 7-8 September during which he met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

In a joint statement, a reference of Jammu and Kashmir was made, with the Pakistani side raising the alleged concerns over J&K to China. In response, Beijing said that Kashmir issue is a “dispute left from the past history” and added that it opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation, apparently referring to Indian move of revocation of the special status of J&K.

While answering a query on reference to J&K in the China-Pakistan joint statement, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We reject the reference to Jammu & 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,”

“On the other hand, India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on the projects in so-called "China Pakistan Economic Corridor”, which is in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947,” he said.

India is resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in Pakistan occupied J&K (PoJK), Kumar said. “We call on the parties concerned to cease such actions,” he added.