The new border agreement between Pakistan and China in a disputed part of the Himalayas, which India claims as its own, has sparked anger in New Delhi. Last week, the two countries signed an agreement to form a "Pakistan-China Joint Border Commission," which Pakistan has described as a "significant milestone" and emphasized the development of cooperation in border management and trade.
India's Strong Reaction to the New Agreement
India has deemed this agreement to lack any legal basis and stated that it does not recognize any border between Pakistan and China that lies in territory India considers part of its own. Randeep Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, clarified: "There is no border between Pakistan and China. We reject this so-called Joint Commission, which has no legal basis."
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This agreement pertains to the border between Pakistan and China, particularly the Shaksgam Valley; an area of approximately 5,180 square kilometers that Pakistan ceded to China in 1963. India claims that this area has been part of its territory in Ladakh and was illegally occupied by Pakistan before being ceded to China.
Political and Strategic Implications of the Agreement
Hussain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, pointed out that this new commission has both practical and political aspects. This mechanism will help strengthen cooperation in border management and protect strategic infrastructure related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This move also sends a message to India that China continues to view the Kashmir issue through Pakistan's lens.
Experts believe that the timing of this announcement is also particularly significant. Haqqani noted that China always plans its decisions months and even years in advance, and the decision to operationalize the Joint Border Commission must have been made some time ago. These developments occur at a time when India and China are trying to stabilize their relations, while Pakistan and China are expanding their cooperation in this region.
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