India takes strong exception to reference of J-K in Pak-China joint statement

India takes strong exception to reference of J-K in Pak-China joint statement

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday objected to the reference made to Jammu and Kashmir in a China-Pakistan joint statement issued after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Islamabad.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also talked about the China-Pakistan economic corridor in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, asserting that India is “resolutely opposed” to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in the region.

“We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of the Chinese foreign minister. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India,” he said, responding to a question on the issue.

“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. Kumar said the parties concerned should cease such actions. PTI