China and Pakistan once again raised the Kashmir issue in a joint statement released after talks between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The statement was issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the meeting held on May 26.

According to the statement, the Pakistani side “briefed” China about the latest developments in Jammu and Kashmir. It added that the Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir “dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.”

The wording used in the latest statement is similar to the joint statement issued by both countries in 2024. In that statement too, China and Pakistan had described the Jammu and Kashmir issue as “left over from history” and had called for a peaceful resolution under the UN Charter.

India had strongly reacted to the references made in the earlier statement. The Ministry of External Affairs had termed the remarks on Jammu and Kashmir as “unwarranted” and firmly rejected them. India had also reiterated that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country.

The MEA had categorically stated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. It had further said that “no other country has the locus standi to comment on the same.”

India had also criticised the activities linked to the “so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).” New Delhi had objected to several projects under the corridor, saying that some of them are located in India’s sovereign territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan.

India has repeatedly opposed Pakistan’s attempts to internationalise the Jammu and Kashmir issue. New Delhi has maintained that all matters related to Jammu and Kashmir are internal issues of India and must be addressed bilaterally without involvement from third countries.

The latest remarks by China and Pakistan are expected to once again draw a sharp response from India. The Kashmir issue has remained a sensitive subject in relations between the three countries for several years. India has consistently rejected any outside comments on the matter and has maintained its position on the status of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.