India, May 26 -- India's ministry of external affairs has responded sharply to references to Jammu and Kashmir in the recent joint statement by China and Pakistan. "India's position is consistent and well-known to the concerned parties. The Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

"As regards the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, some of which are in India's sovereign territory, we resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan's illegal and forcible occupation of these ...