India Rejects Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission as Illegal
India has rejected a joint boundary commission established by China and Pakistan, dismissing the body as lacking any legal basis and calling on Islamabad to abandon what New Delhi termed diplomatic theatrics regarding disputed territories. The external affairs ministry issued its rejection on Wednesday, hours after the newly formed Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission held its inaugural meeting in Islamabad. According to announcements by Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the commission aims to oversee enhanced cooperation in border management, joint border surveys, and trade flows.
New Delhi Dismisses Joint Commission
Rejection of Border Agreements
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that New Delhi maintains a clear and consistent position regarding the region. “There is no boundary between Pakistan and China,” Jaiswal said, adding that India rejects the commission entirely. He reiterated that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remain integral and inalienable parts of India, asserting that Pakistan holds no locus standi to execute agreements concerning Indian territory under its control.
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The 1963 Boundary Dispute
At the center of New Delhi’s objection is the bilateral understanding reached decades ago between Islamabad and Beijing. India has never recognized the China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, consistently classifying the pact as illegal and invalid. Under that 1963 agreement, Pakistan ceded specific territories, including the Shaksgam Valley, to China. New Delhi maintains that any cooperative border arrangements between Beijing and Islamabad concerning these regions infringe directly upon Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity. “We resolutely oppose and reject any attempts to alter the status of these occupied territories or legitimise illegal occupation,” Jaiswal stated. He added that any joint border measures enacted by the two neighboring countries carry no bearing whatsoever on India’s sovereign claims over the region.
Infrastructure Projects and Regional Tensions
The diplomatic dispute unfolds alongside long-standing disagreements over regional connectivity projects. India has repeatedly voiced opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, pointing out that segments of the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure initiative traverse Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi also holds Pakistan responsible for occupying parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir following the 1947-48 conflict, a historical grievance that continues to shape bilateral friction. Wednesday’s friction follows recent diplomatic engagements where Indian leadership emphasized the necessity for neighboring states to respect mutual core sensitivities.
Calls to Vacate Occupied Territory
“Instead of engaging in such theatrics, we call on Pakistan to immediately vacate from areas under its illegal and forcible occupation,” Jaiswal said.