India Reaffirms Union Territories as Integral Parts of the Country
Srinagar | October, 19: India has firmly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in resolutions adopted at a recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, accusing Pakistan of leveraging the platform to advance its political agenda and mask its internal challenges.
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) characterized the statements regarding India as “malicious, biased, and false,” expressing disappointment over their inclusion during the Council of Foreign Ministers’ session in Baghdad.
The Ministry asserted that Pakistan orchestrated these references and criticized the OIC for allowing itself to be used to promote Islamabad’s regional narratives. Reaffirming India’s unwavering stance, officials said the OIC has no locus standi to comment on matters that fall strictly within India’s internal affairs, reiterating that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remain integral parts of the nation.
Highlighting the rapid infrastructure development, tourism growth, and improved connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370, the MEA noted that these transformations have significantly benefited local residents. Conversely, the ministry cited severe human rights violations, media suppression, and violent repressions against civilian protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Officials stated that the core outstanding issues remain Pakistan’s illegal occupation of territories and its continued support for cross-border terrorism.
