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India on Wednesday rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir and an economic corridor passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in a China-Pakistan joint statement and called on the two countries not to interfere in India’s internal affairs or to alter the status quo in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan, the Hindustan Times reported.
Additionally, India has firmly asserted that the region as well as the Union Territory of Ladakh "have been, are and will" always remain integral and inalienable parts of India.
Regarding the reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has consistently conveyed its concerns to China and Pakistan on the projects.
India "resolutely opposes" any attempts to change the status quo by "other countries, as also by Pakistan" in the areas under the illegal occupation of Islamabad, he said. Bagchi said India expects the "parties concerned" not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India.
The joint statement was issued on February 6 following talks in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Bagchi said India has "noted references to J&K and the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the joint statement."
"We have always rejected such references and our position is well known to China and Pakistan. In this instance too, we reject reference to J and K in the joint statement. The Union Territory of J and K and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are, and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India," he added.
On CPEC, Bagchi said "we have consistently conveyed our concerns to China and Pakistan on the projects in the so-called CPEC, which are 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 concerned to cease such activities," he said
The CPEC is part of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has been severely critical of the BRI as the USD 50 billion corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
(With inputs from agencies)
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