NEW DELHI – Frustrated over rising international pressure on IndianOccupied Kashmir lockdown India lashes out at Pakistan and China.
Dismissing a recent Pak-China joint statement, India has called on both ofthe countries to stop China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) relatedactivities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar rejected the jointstatement and said that India has consistently expressed concerns to bothPakistan and China about CPEC projects in AJK. He claimed AJK was territoryof India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.
“We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issuedby China and Pakistan after the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister.J&K is an integral part of India,”*The Hindu *quoted Kumar.
The external minister continued that India is resolutely opposed to anyactions by other countries to change the status quo in AJK. “We call on theparties concerned to cease such actions,” Kumar added.
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On September 8, Pakistan and China had released a joint statement in whichboth had exchanged views on the situation in IoK. China responded that itwas paying close attention to the current situation in IoK, reiteratingthat the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history. The side also saidthat the issue should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UNCharter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.
While referring to CPEC, the two neigbours agreed to continue to firmlypush forward the construction of CPEC, complete its on-going projects in atimely manner.
“Both sides expressed satisfaction over the close cooperation between thetwo countries at multilateral fora and resolved to deepen strategiccoordination and consultation,” the statement added.
