Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has dismissed remarks made by India’s External Affairs Ministry concerning the recent joint statement by Pakistan and China about Jammu and Kashmir, urging India to adhere to United Nations resolutions on the matter.
“India has no right to object to the references made to Jammu and Kashmir in the Pakistan-China Joint Statement of June 8,” Mumtaz Baloch stated on Wednesday night, reported by Presstonight
This response followed media inquiries about the Indian ministry’s comments made on June 13. Baloch reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and remains on the UN Security Council’s agenda.
In the joint statement, Pakistan had informed China of the latest developments in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir issue is a historical dispute that should be resolved peacefully according to the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements.
India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had “rejected unwarranted references to Jammu and Kashmir” made by Pakistan and China, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India and will remain so.
Baloch emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory, a status that has been acknowledged by the UNSC for over seven decades. She added that the UNSC resolutions clearly state that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir should be determined by the will of the people through a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under UN supervision.
Given this context, Baloch insisted that India’s claims over Jammu and Kashmir are baseless. She also addressed India’s criticisms of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), labeling them as unfounded. Baloch suggested that instead of making baseless claims about the CPEC, India should promptly implement the relevant UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
