MEA responds to Kashmir reference by China at UNGA

MEA has reiterated its stand on Kashmir being an internal matter to India, after Chinese Foreign Minister made a reference to Kashmir and Ladakh in his UNGA address. MEa also stated that other nations should respect India's sovereignty.

New Delhi:In response to a query regarding Kashmir reference made by Chinese foreign minister in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, MEA has said that Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India and other nations should respect India's sovereignty.

MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar responded saying, "We have seen a reference made by China's foreign minister to Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, in his statement to the UN General Assembly. The Chinese side is well aware of India's position that Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh are an integral part of India, and that the recent developments are entirely a matter internal to us."

" We expect that other countries will respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and desist from efforts to change the status quo through the illegal so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pakistan occupied Kashmir," the statement read.

"The Kashmir issue, a dispute left from the past, should be peacefully and properly addressed in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreement," State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi said in his address to the UN General Assembly on Friday.

"No actions that would unilaterally change the status quo should be taken. As a neighbour of both India and Pakistan, China hopes to see the dispute effectively managed and stability restored to the relationship between the two sides," Wang said.

India's last month decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian ambassador.

India on Friday had said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's threat of unleashing nuclear devastation qualifies as "brinksmanship, not statesmanship" and questioned whether " Pakistan PM can confirm the fact that it is home to 130 UN-designated terrorists and 25 terrorist entities listed by the UN.

Exercising India's right to reply to Khan's speech, First Secretary MEA Vidisha Maitra said that Pakistan's "virulent reaction" over the abrogation of Article 370 depicts that "those who thrive on conflict never welcome the ray of peace."

Read: Can Pakistan confirm the fact it is home to 130 UN-designated terrorists: India