New Delhi, May 26, 2026 — India has strongly rejected the references to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan, reaffirming that the Union Territory is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the remarks on Kashmir as “unwarranted” and emphasized that no third country has any locus standi on the issue. India made it clear that matters related to Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, are strictly bilateral between India and Pakistan and must be resolved through direct dialogue.
In the joint statement released following Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, the two countries referred to the Kashmir issue as a “leftover from history” and called for its resolution through peaceful means in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. India has consistently opposed any attempt to internationalize the Kashmir issue.
The MEA also dismissed other elements of the joint statement, including projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that pass through territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, and the so-called 1963 boundary agreement between China and Pakistan.
This rejection follows a well-established pattern. India has repeatedly stated that after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir is fully integrated into the Indian Union, and any external commentary on the matter amounts to interference in its internal affairs.
The government’s firm stance underscores India’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is not a disputed territory but an inseparable part of the nation, and it will not entertain third-party involvement in what it considers a domestic issue.
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