ISLAMABAD – Islamabad on Sunday rejected New Delhi’s protest over theapproval of the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and the country’s claim thatthe mountainous region is an integral part of Indian-occupied Kashmir(IoK), reported *Radio Pakistan*link>.
The GB order enforces the transfer of subjects from G-B Council to theassembly under the 18th amendment.
In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal reiterated thatJammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and its final status will bedetermined through a democratic model of free and impartial plebisciteadministered by the United Nations.
“Instead of making frivolous protests and issuing legally untenable anduncalled for statements, India should take a step to vacate its illegaloccupation and create the conditions for implementation of the UnitedNations Security Council resolutions.”
Terming India’s protest as baseless propaganda, he said the rival countrycould not use G-B as means to hide the atrocities perpetrated by the Indianforces in IoK. India cannot divert the attention of the internationalcommunity from the situation in IoK, he added.
On Sunday, India had summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner SyedHaider Shah after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved theorder, *Timesof India*link>reported.
In a statement, New Delhi claimed that the ministry of external affairstold Shah that the “entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includesthe so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’ areas, is an integral part of India byvirtue of its accession in 1947”