India irked at Pak-China joint statement on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: India is irked about reference of Kashmir dispute in joint statement issued on the conclusion of the visit of President Arif Alvi to China, the first since coronavirus outbreak in China. The statement mentioned that Pakistan and China discussed Kashmir during the visit of the President Alvi to Beijing, India reiterated its dismissal of any comment on so-called internal affairs and objected again to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The joint statement stated that it was a singular expression of Pakistan’s solidarity with its “iron brother”. The joint statement reminded that there was an exchange of views “on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir”. “The Chinese side underscored that it was paying close attention to the current situation and reiterated that the Kashmir issue was a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and bilateral agreements,” it said and added that China “opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation”.

These were repetition of China’s position on Kashmir and the change in status by India. India on Wednesday said that it rejected the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement. Terming Kashmir its union territory as an integral part of India it said that issues related to J&K are internal matter of India. We expect other countries including China not to comment on matters that are internal affairs of India and also to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity just as India refrains from commenting on internal issues of other countries,” Indian spokesperson said.

He registered India’s protest over CPEC by terming it so-called and illegal. The joint statement had described CPEC as transformational and expressed hope that the international community will support such efforts that underpin economic development.