Sakhsam Valley part of Maharaja Hari Singh’s J&K, says Gaurav; China’s presence illegal

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: BJP Spokesperson and Convenor, International Affairs, Gaurav Gupta on Tuesday issued a strong and unequivocal statement asserting that Sakhsam Valley, which formed an integral part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under Maharaja Hari Singh, is the sovereign territory of India, and that any construction, infrastructure development or activity by China in the area is illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable.
Gupta said Sakhsam Valley falls within Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), a region that Pakistan continues to occupy illegally. “Pakistan is itself an illegal occupant and therefore has absolutely no authority, locus standi or moral right to ‘gift’, transfer or permit any third-party activity on Indian land,” he said, rejecting Pakistan’s attempts to legitimise Chinese presence in the area.
Strongly condemning China’s ongoing construction and infrastructure activities, Gupta stated, “China is operating on land that does not belong to it. This is a blatant violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such actions are in complete disregard of international law and are outrightly rejected by the people of India.”
Reiterating India’s long-standing and consistent position, Gupta said that India has never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, under which Pakistan illegally attempted to cede Indian territory in Sakhsam Valley to China. “That agreement is null and void, as Pakistan had no legal authority to negotiate or transfer territory that does not belong to it,” he asserted.
The BJP leader further reiterated New Delhi’s categorical non-recognition of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stating that the project passes through Indian territory that is forcibly and illegally occupied by Pakistan. “No amount of investment, construction or propaganda can legalise an illegal occupation. CPEC remains unacceptable to India in its entirety,” Gupta said.
Recalling history, Gupta emphasized that the entire Jammu and Kashmir legally acceded to India in 1947 through the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh. “Historical facts, legal documents and international norms are clear. No collusion between China and Pakistan can alter this reality. Sakhsam Valley is, was and will remain an inseparable part of India,” he asserted.
Gupta further said that genuine peace and friendship in the region are impossible unless China vacates all illegally occupied Indian territories, including Aksai Chin, which was occupied by China in 1962. “Friendship cannot be built on encroachment and aggression. If China truly seeks stable and respectful relations with India, it must first undo its historical wrongs,” he said.
Drawing a broader geopolitical parallel, Gupta said China’s illegal occupation of Tibet exposes its expansionist mindset. “The world knows how Tibet was forcefully annexed. The same pattern of coercion, occupation and disregard for sovereignty is now evident in China’s actions in PoJK,” he remarked.
Calling out the China-Pakistan nexus, Gupta said, “Chor-chor mausere Bhai – China and Pakistan are partners in illegal occupation. Neither of them has any legitimate claim over even an inch of Indian territory under their control.”
He emphasized that India will continue to raise its objections firmly at all diplomatic and international platforms and will not tolerate attempts to alter facts on the ground through illegal construction, strategic manoeuvring or cartographic aggression.
“The BJP stands united and uncompromising in the defence of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any compromise on national territory is non-negotiable,” Gupta concluded.