New Delhi

India on Tuesday firmly objected to references concerning Jammu and Kashmir in the joint communiqué issued after the eighth European Union-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, maintaining that the issue is an internal matter and not open to external commentary.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi does not accept such references and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, remains an inseparable part of India.

"We categorically reject these unwarranted remarks on matters that are entirely internal to India. The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country. Those without any locus standi should refrain from commenting on such issues," Jaiswal said.

The response followed a joint statement issued after the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue held on Monday, which noted that Pakistan had briefed the European delegation on Jammu and Kashmir, while the European side shared its assessment of the conflict in Ukraine.

India's reaction is in line with its earlier objections to references made by other countries on the issue. Last month, New Delhi similarly dismissed comments on Jammu and Kashmir contained in a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan.

At the time, the MEA had reiterated that India's position on Jammu and Kashmir is clear and consistent, stressing that no external party has any authority to comment on the status of the Union Territories.

Jaiswal also reiterated India's opposition to projects being undertaken under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in territories claimed by India. He said New Delhi strongly rejects any attempt by foreign governments to legitimise Pakistan's control over areas that India considers part of its sovereign territory.

"Some of the CPEC-related projects are located in Indian territory under Pakistan's illegal occupation. We oppose and reject any effort to endorse or legitimise such activities, which undermine India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said, adding that India's concerns have been repeatedly conveyed to both Islamabad and Beijing.

The spokesperson further rejected references to cooperation on so-called trans-boundary water resources between China and Pakistan. He argued that the two countries do not share a recognised boundary and pointed out that India has never accepted the boundary agreement signed between China and Pakistan in 1963.

The latest remarks also came after Pakistan's Foreign Office stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had briefed Chinese President Xi Jinping on recent developments related to Jammu and Kashmir during bilateral discussions. According to the Pakistani statement, China reiterated its position that the issue should be resolved peacefully through relevant international frameworks and bilateral agreements.

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India, however, has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and that any outstanding issues with Pakistan must be addressed bilaterally.