The recent visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad Jane Marriott to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has prompted a sharp response from India as Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra has lodged a strong protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this incident, as per a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA termed the visit as “highly objectionable” and said that a strong note of the visit has been taken.
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The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to POK on January 10. “India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan occupied Kashmir on 10 January 2024,” the MEA statement said.
“Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable,” the statement further stated. The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are, have been and shall always remain an integral part of India, the statement noted.
After her visit, Marriott shared some pictures on the social media platform X. "Salaam from Mirpur, the heart of the UK and Pakistan’s people to people ties! 70% of British Pakistani roots are from Mirpur, making our work together crucial for diaspora interests. Thank you for your hospitality!," she said in the post.
Last year in October, the US envoy to Pakistan, Donald Blome, visited the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region. After the visit, New Delhi conveyed to Washington its 'strong objection' and urged the international community to respect its "sovereignty and territorial integrity".