India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan against the country’s Supreme Court order on Gilgit-Baltistan

“India demarched senior Pakistan diplomat and lodged a strong protest to Pakistan against Supreme Court of Pakistan order on the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

This response came after the Pakistan Supreme Court in its recent order said that Gilgit-Baltistan came within its domain.

The MEA said: “It was clearly conveyed that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession. The Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.”

It further added, “ India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.”

It was once again clearly conveyed to Pakistan that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by Islamabad nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades.

“Government of India’s position in the matter is reflected in the resolution passed by the Parliament in 1994 by consensus,” the MEA said.