New Delhi, India – India has strongly condemned the establishment of a “so-called” Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, stating it possesses no legal standing to make arrangements concerning Indian territory under illegal occupation. The rejection follows the commission's inaugural meeting in Islamabad.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal articulated India's consistent position on the matter, emphasizing that there is no recognized boundary between Pakistan and China that could legitimate such a joint commission. "Our position on this matter is clear and consistent. There is no boundary between Pakistan and China. We reject the so-called Joint Commission, which is without any legal basis," Jaiswal stated.
Historical Context of Disputed Territories
India has long maintained that Pakistan's 1963 agreement to cede territories, including the Shaksgam Valley, to China was illegal and unacceptable. This historical context forms a crucial part of India's current objection to any collaborative boundary discussions between the two nations.
Furthermore, India has voiced strong opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative, because significant portions of its route traverse through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sovereignty Over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh Reaffirmed
The MEA spokesperson reiterated that India has never acknowledged the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, consistently deeming it illegal and invalid. He affirmed that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh "have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India."
Jaiswal warned against any attempts to alter the status of these occupied territories or to legitimize their illegal occupation. "Any so-called boundary cooperation between China and Pakistan concerning Indian territories would be completely unacceptable and would have no bearing whatsoever on India's sovereignty over these territories," he asserted.
Call for Pakistan to Vacate Occupied Areas
Concluding his statement, Jaiswal called upon Pakistan to cease what he termed "theatrics" and instead immediately vacate the areas under its illegal and forcible occupation. This demand underscores India's unwavering claim over the disputed regions and its rejection of any third-party involvement in their status.