India on Wednesday rejected the ‘so-called’ Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, saying it has no legal basis and that no boundary exists between Pakistan and China.
The Ministry of External Affairs also challenged Pakistan’s authority to make agreements involving territory claimed by India and told Islamabad to immediately vacate areas that New Delhi says remain under its illegal occupation.
The sharp response came after Pakistan and China operationalised their Boundary Joint Commission. India rejected the premise of the commission itself. “We have seen reports in this regard. Our position on this matter is clear and consistent. There is no boundary between Pakistan and China. Pakistan disputes India’s position on Kashmir. China also has territorial disputes with India in the region. New Delhi’s latest statement was directed at the legal basis claimed for bilateral Pakistan-China boundary arrangements involving territory India claims.
This development came four days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12.
Islamabad said the mechanism would cover matters including border management and joint surveys. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi’s position had not changed. We reject the so-called Joint Commission, which is without any legal basis,” Jaiswal said in response to media queries. New Delhi said a new commission or other bilateral arrangement would not change India’s territorial claims.
The two leaders expressed support for a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” settlement of the India-China boundary question, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
