New Delhi has firmly rejected China’s infrastructure activities in the Shaksgam Valley, reaffirming its territorial claims over the disputed region. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Friday that India does not recognize the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement, under which Pakistan illegally ceded the area to China.
In a weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the agreement is unlawful and invalid. He reiterated India’s opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Indian territory occupied by Pakistan. ‘Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, remains an integral part of India,’ Jaiswal declared, adding that India has consistently protested Chinese attempts to alter the ground reality in Shaksgam Valley.
The MEA underscored India’s right to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests. This stance comes amid ongoing tensions, with India maintaining close surveillance on developments in the strategically vital valley, which borders its northern frontiers.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had previously highlighted the decades-long military, economic, and strategic nexus between Islamabad and Beijing in Parliament. He traced the pattern back to 1963, when Pakistan handed over Shaksgam to China, through nuclear cooperation in the 1970s and the launch of CPEC in recent years. Jaishankar warned that this alliance poses a ‘two-front threat’ to India, urging a bipartisan approach beyond party lines.
India’s diplomatic protests to China have been regular, reflecting the gravity of the issue. As Beijing ramps up construction, New Delhi vows to protect its sovereignty, ensuring no unilateral changes undermine its claims. The situation remains fluid, with potential implications for regional stability.