Government slams Pakistan & China

The government hit out at China and Pakistan or referring to Jammu and Kashmir, and also the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, in a joint statement earlier this week, saying India expected the “parties concerned” not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India. It also called upon the two countries to stop all activities on CPEC projects saying they were located on Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. “We have noted references to Jammu & Kashmir and the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the joint statement between China and Pakistan issued on February 6, 2022,” the spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs said. “We have always rejected such references and our position is well known to China and Pakistan. In this instance too, we reject reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India,” he added. As regards the reference to the “so-called CPEC”, said the official, India had consistently conveyed its concerns to China and Pakistan on the projects. in India’s territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan. “We resolutely oppose any attempts to change the status quo by other countries, as also by Pakistan, in the areas under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon the parties conserned to cease such activities," he said.