MEA rejects K-reference by China, Pak in joint statement

New Delhi, September 10

India reacted angrily to the mention of J&K in a joint press release by China and Pakistan on Sunday. The unusual format of “joint press release” issued in Islamabad pointedly referred to J&K on which they held detailed discussions.

“We reject the reference to J&K in the Joint Statement (sic) issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister. J&K is an integral part of India,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

He sought to turn the tables by stating “India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on the projects in so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.”

He reiterated India’s opposition to any action by other countries to change status quo in Pakistan-occupied J&K and called upon them to “cease such actions”. India has refused to join the Chinese “One Belt, One Road (OBOR)”. — TNS