Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday objected to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to accord provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan and said the region was an integral part of India.
“Pakistan has illegally occupied Gilgit-Baltistan,” Singh tweeted. “Pakistan is going to make it a province now. Our government has clarified that Gilgit-Baltistan, along with entire PoK, is an integral part of India.”
On Sunday, Anurag Srivastava, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, condemned Pakistan’s move after Khan made the announcement at a gathering in Gilgit to mark the 73rd Independence Day of the region. Srivastava said India “firmly rejects the attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to a part of Indian territory, under its illegal and forcible occupation”.
Singh reiterated the foreign ministry’s assertions….