India categorically rejected unwarranted references to the UT of Jammu & Kashmir in a joint statement between China and Pakistan that was issued after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, saying the UTs of J&K and Ladakh will always remain integral parts of India. “No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same,” said MEA’s Randhir Jaiswal. “As regards the so-called CPEC projects, some of which are in India’s territory, we resolutely reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said. On references to the so-called ‘trans-boundary water resources cooperation’ between China and Pakistan, the official said as the two countries, such a question does not arise.
