NEW DELHI: Ministry of external affairs on Friday firmly rejected the China-Pakistan boundary agreement and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling both “illegal and invalid”. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “Shaksgam Valley is Indian territory. We have never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement that happened in 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid.” Jaiswal added that “the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India”, a position New Delhi has conveyed repeatedly to both Pakistan and China. He said India has “consistently protested with the Chinese side against attempts to alter the ground reality in Shaksgam Valley” and “further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests”.The remarks come as Pakistan announced the creation of a Special Protection Unit (SPU) to secure thousands of Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects.
What is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor?
CPEC is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, valued at around USD 60 billion. It links China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and energy projects. India opposes CPEC because key sections pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi considers its sovereign territory. India has repeatedly warned that involving third countries in CPEC “directly infringe[s] on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement during meetings in Beijing with China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong on Wednesday, as reported by news agency PTI. According to Pakistan’s interior ministry, the SPU will be set up in Islamabad to protect Chinese citizens.Chinese state media confirmed discussions on counter-terrorism, law enforcement cooperation and security capacity building, but did not mention the SPU. It also remains unclear whether the move would involve Chinese security personnel operating on Pakistani soil, something Islamabad has reportedly resisted due to domestic sensitivities.Around 20,000 Chinese personnel are currently involved in CPEC projects, with the Pakistan Army already deploying two corps for their protection. Militant groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army, which opposes CPEC, have repeatedly targeted Chinese interests.