India wants China, Pakistan to end CPEC related activities in Azad Kashmir

Dismissing a recent Pak-China joint statement, India has called on both of the countries to stop China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related activities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar rejected the joint statement and said that India has consistently expressed concerns to both Pakistan and China about CPEC projects in AJK. He claimed AJK was territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.

"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. J&K is an integral part of India,"The Hindu quoted Kumar.

The external minister continued that India is resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in AJK. "We call on the parties concerned to cease such actions," Kumar added.

On September 8, Pakistan and China had released a joint statement in which both had exchanged views on the situation in IoK. China responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in IoK, reiterating that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history. The side also said that the issue should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

While referring to CPEC, the two neigbours agreed to continue to firmly push forward the construction of CPEC, complete its on-going projects in a timely manner.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction over the close cooperation between the two countries at multilateral fora and resolved to deepen strategic coordination and consultation," the statement added.