Pakistan on Thursday rejected the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) purported protest and statement regarding bus service through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
A private Pakistani transport company has recently launched a bus service from Lahore to Chinese city of Kashgar via Islamabad.
“India’s repeated regurgitation of claims over Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) can neither change the facts of history nor the legality of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” said a statement.
As per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed, the final status of which is to be determined through a democratic and impartial plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the United Nations, the statement said.
“In complete violation of the UNSC resolutions, and against the wishes of the Kashmiri people, India continues to maintain its illegal hold over Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir through brutal use of force,” it noted, adding, “It may be recalled that Indian leaders had committed to hold the plebiscite.”
Pakistan further called upon India to vacate its illegal occupation and allow the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommended by the OHCHR to investigate human rights violations and resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Moreover, commenting over bus service between China and Pakistan, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Thursday said that China had a clear cut position on Kashmir issue and all the cooperation between China and Pakistan had nothing to do with territorial dispute.
“In principle, I want to tell you that all the cooperation between China and Pakistan has nothing to do with territorial dispute,” Lu Kang said during his regular briefing.
The spokesperson said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was an economic cooperation project between the two countries. “It is not targeted against any third party and it has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and it will not affect China’s principled position on Kashmir,” he added.
When specifically asked about India’s protest to China over the bus service as it would run through the disputed region, the spokesperson said that he was not aware of the specific information.
