India rejects references to CPEC, Pakistan joint statement in J&K, China

In addition, India has firmly stated that the region as well as the Union Territory of Ladakh “has always been, is and will be an integral and inseparable part of India”.

In the statement, with reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India has consistently conveyed its concerns to China and Pakistan on the projects.

He said India “strongly opposes” any attempt to change the status quo in Islamabad’s illegally occupied territories by “other countries, as well as Pakistan”. Bagchi said that India expects “concerned parties” not to interfere in matters that are internal to India.

The joint statement was issued on 6 February after talks in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Bagchi said India has mentioned Jammu and Kashmir and the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the joint statement.

“We have always rejected such references and our position is well known to China and Pakistan. In this instance also, we reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement. Union Territory of Jammu And Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh are, and will always be, an integral and inseparable part of India.”

On CPEC, Bagchi said, “We have consistently conveyed our concerns to China and Pakistan over projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in India’s territory, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan.”

“We strongly oppose any attempt by other countries and Pakistan to change the status quo in Pakistan’s illegally occupied territories. We call on the parties concerned to stop such activities,” he said.

CPEC is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has been critical of the BRI as the USD 50 billion corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

(with inputs from agencies)