India has firmly rejected the attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to a part of Indian territory, under its illegal and forcible occupation. India reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the area of so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’, are an integral part of the country by virtue of the legal, complete and irrevocable accession of Jammu and Kashmir to the Union of India in 1947.
 
In response to media queries on remarks by Pakistani Prime Minister in Gilgit today regarding his government’s decision to accord ‘provisional provincial status’ to the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, Pakistan has no locus standi on territories, illegally and forcibly occupied by it.
 
He said, such attempts by Pakistan, intended to camouflage its illegal occupation, cannot hide the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom for over seven decades to the people residing in these Pakistan occupied territories. The spokesperson said, instead of seeking to alter the status of these Indian territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.