New Delhi, September 10: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said India rejects reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and China. The MEA reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, while expressing concerns over projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or PoK. Pakistan has been trying to raise the Kashmir issue on global platforms since India withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. Kashmir Issue: Pakistan Knocked on Several Doors, But Entire World Stood With India, Says Prakash Javadekar.

"We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India," the MEA said in a statement. New Delhi also told the two neighbouring countries to stop work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Jammu And Kashmir Under Siege: Security Lockdown, Communication Blackout And UT Status Leave Kashmiris With No Autonomy.

"India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on the projects in so-called 'China Pakistan Economic Corridor', which is in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947. India is resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in Pakistan occupied J&K," the MEA said.

In the joint statement released on Monday, China opposed "any unilateral actions that complicate the situation" in Jammu and Kashmir as it maintained that the issue should be "peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements". The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side "on the situation, including its concerns, position, and urgent humanitarian issues".

"The Chinese side responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation," the statement said.

Earlier, India rejected had China's opposition to its move of conferring Union Territory status on Ladakh, calling it an "internal matter" of the country. "India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2019 02:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).