India Disapproves of the British Envoy’s PoK Visit, Saying “Has Been, Shall Always Remain…”
Delhi, New: The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly protested against the British High Commissioner’s visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, stating that it is unacceptable for India to violate its territorial integrity and that Jammu and Kashmir has been and will always be an essential part of the nation.
“India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan occupied Kashmir on January 10, 2024,” the ministry stated on Friday in response to the visit by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott. It is unacceptable to violate India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in this way.”
“The British High Commissioner in India has received a strong complaint from the Foreign Secretary on this breach. According to the ministry, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories “are, have been, and shall remain, an integral part of India.”
“Salaam from Mirpur, the heart of the UK and Pakistan’s people-to-people ties!” Ms. Marriott said on X, sharing some images from her visit to Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Since Mirpur is the ancestral home of 70% of British Pakistanis, cooperation is essential for diaspora interests. I appreciate your hospitality.
A video of Ms. Marriott visiting a bakery and speaking with local authorities was also posted on the British High Commission in Pakistan’s Twitter account.
India had expressed concerns to the United States in October of last year on the travel of Donald Blome, the American ambassador to Islamabad, to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have been urged by the Ministry of External Affairs to be respected by the international community. In 2022, the US ambassador had also been to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
In a December speech to Congress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that “PoK is ours” and said that 24 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had been set aside for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
