Shaksgam Valley: India Reiterates Territory Claim, Rejects China-Pak Agreement

NEW DELHI– Rejecting the Chinese infrastructure build-up in the Shaksgam Valley in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) through the China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, India on January 9 reiterated that it reserves the right to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests in the region.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said here, “Regarding Chinese infrastructure buildup via CPEC as also in the Shaksgam Valley, which is Indian territory. We have never recognized the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid. We do not recognize the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) either, which passes through Indian territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan,” said Jaiswal.

“The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India. This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times. We have consistently protested with the Chinese side against attempts to alter the ground reality in the Shaksgam Valley. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests,” he added. (IANS)