China’s Participation in Pok Project ‘Illegal’: Krishna
Making its position clear, India has said that it treats China’s participation in projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as ‘illegal’.
Besides, External affairs minister S M Krishna said that India has raised with China the matter of issuing visas to Kashmiris on loose sheets instead of passports and asked it to apply uniform visa norm for all Indian nationals.
“Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Any activity by any country in Jammu and Kashmir is illegal and this has been made known to all concerned,” Krishna told reporters in Bengalore.
He was responding to a query about Chinese participation in developmental projects in PoK.
It may be mentioned that China is assisting Pakistan in building a mega power project and construction of a highway in Karakoram range in PoK. Chinese President Hu Jintao, during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in Beijing recently, emphasised his country’s commitment to these projects.
Krishna, who held talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi yesterday, said that the matter relating to issuance of visas to Kashmiris was discussed.
“They (Chinese side) said they made no discrimination. We are insisting that there should be a uniform visa norm for Indian nationals,” Krishna said.
