India has strongly objected to references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint communiqué issued after the eighth round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue held in Islamabad. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the remarks as “unwarranted” and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, are integral and inalienable parts of India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India “categorically rejects such unwarranted references” and emphasized that “those who have no locus standi in such matters should refrain from making any comments.” The statement came after the EU-Pakistan communiqué linked the Kashmir issue with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine under a section addressing regional and global issues.
According to the communiqué, Pakistan briefed the EU on Jammu and Kashmir, while the EU side discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine. Both parties expressed support for peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the UN Charter. However, the formulation drew scrutiny in New Delhi for appearing to equate the Kashmir issue with the Ukraine conflict, a linkage India considers inappropriate.
India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and that all outstanding issues with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally under existing agreements. The MEA reaffirmed that there is “no scope for third-party mediation” on the matter, underscoring India’s long-standing position against external involvement in its domestic affairs.
The diplomatic exchange highlights India’s firm stance on sovereignty and territorial integrity amid growing international commentary on regional conflicts.