Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable" part of India: MEA

NEW DELHI

India on Thursday asserted that the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been, are, and would” remain an integral part of the country, insisting that China has no locus standi to comment on its internal matters.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava came in response to China’s contention that it does not recognise the Union territory of Ladakh as well of Arunachal Pradesh.

“Our position on this has always been clear and consistent. The Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are, and would remain an integral part of India. China has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters,” Srivastava said at a media briefing.

Srivastava also said that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable” part of India.

“Our position on Arunachal Pradesh has also been made clear several times. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. This fact has also been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, including at the highest level,” he added.

After Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated several new bridges in certain border areas on Monday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China does not recognise the Ladakh union territory “illegally set up” by India and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chinese spokesperson had also claimed that the development of border infrastructure by India was the “root cause” of tensions between the two countries.