Pakistan firmly rebutted India’s objections to references regarding Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by Pakistan and China on June 8, reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir is internationally recognized as a disputed territory.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch addressed media inquiries on Wednesday, responding directly to statements from India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued on June 3.
Baloch underscored that the Kashmir issue has been on the agenda of the UN Security Council for more than seventy years. She emphasized that according to relevant Security Council resolutions, the final resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute will be determined through a democratic and impartial plebiscite conducted under UN auspices, reflecting the will of the Kashmiri people.
In response to India’s claims over Jammu and Kashmir, Baloch categorically dismissed them as unfounded and misleading. She called upon India to refrain from misguiding the international community regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), highlighting it as a significant development initiative agreed upon by two sovereign nations.
Baloch urged India instead to focus on implementing the pertinent UN Security Council resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir, rather than making baseless allegations against CPEC.
She reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to addressing the Kashmir issue in accordance with international law and emphasized the need for India to respect the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The spokesperson’s remarks underscored Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute and its insistence on international resolutions as the framework for any resolution. The statement also aimed to clarify Pakistan’s position amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic exchanges between Pakistan, China, and India.
