New Delhi: India has registered strong opposition against the proposed bus service between Pakistan and China, passing through areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Citing violation of territorial integrity, India has expressed displeasure at the proposal to both Islamabad and Beijing.
A statement released by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India said, “We have lodged strong protests with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under so-called ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’.”
India also stated that the China Pakistan Boundary Agreement 1963 is illegal, invalid and unrecognised by India. Therefore any bus service through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir will be a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Notably, Pakistani media had reported on Monday that a private carrier will launch a bus service between Pakistan and China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on November 3. It was also reported that the bus will run from Lahore in Pakistan’s Punjab to Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang four days a week and that bookings for tickets have already kickstarted.
India has consistently opposed the CPEC which is located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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