China-Pakistan bus service through PoK violates India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity: MEA
On Wednesday, October 31, India strongly protested the bus service between China and Pakistan through Pakistan occupied Kashmir citing it a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in to media, “We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor”.
Responding to the queries of media Kumar said, “so-called China-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963 is illegal and invalid, and has never been recognised by the Government of India. Therefore, any such bus service through Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir will be a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
As per reports the new bus service will be launched on November 3 between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China via Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
When asked protest from India, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that he not aware of India’s move. Kang said, “But on the issue of Kashmir, China’s position is clear cut. We made it clear many times. Cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not affect China’s principled position on Kashmir”.
Kang said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is an economic cooperation project between the two countries and “it is not targeted against any third country”. China is building CPEC in Pakistan with $60 billion to connect with Gwadar port in Baluchistan province.