Frustrated over diplomatic setbacks, India lashes out at Pakistan and China over CPEC through AJK
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NEW DELHI - Frustrated over back to back diplomatic setbacks over the issue of Occupied Kashmir, India lashes out at Pakistan and China over China Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest diplomatic frustration comes after Pakistan and China joint statement against India over Occupied Kashmir crisis.
India has taken exception to the mention of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in a joint statement issued recently by Pakistan and China, according to a report published in *The Hindu link.*
Released on Sunday after Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s September 7-8 visit to Islamabad, the joint statement conveyed Beijing’s opposition to “unilateral actions that complicate the situation” in the disputed Kashmir region.
On Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said New Delhi rejects the reference to IOK and continues to oppose China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) activities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
“We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister. J&K is an integral part of India,” he said.
He said New Delhi has “consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan” on CPEC projects in AJK, which he claimed were on “territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947”.
Kumar added that India is “resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo” in AJK. “We call on the parties concerned to cease such actions,” said the spokesperson.
In the Pak-China joint statement Beijing had also reaffirmed its support to Islamabad in “safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national dignity”.