Taking strong exception to China’s reference to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at the UN General Assembly, New Delhi on Saturday brought the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) in picture terming it as “illegal”. At the same time, it asserted that the “recent developments” (related to Article 370) were India’s internal matter and cautioned other countries to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The Chinese side is well aware of India’s position that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India, and that the recent developments are entirely a matter internal to us. We expect that other countries will respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and desist from efforts to change the status quo through the illegal so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Raising the Kashmir issue, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the UN General Assembly that the “dispute” should be peacefully and properly addressed in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions and the bilateral agreement.
