'No change in J&K policy, issue a bilateral matter between India & Pakistan': MEA

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday reaffirmed that its position on Jammu and Kashmir remains unchanged, asserting that the matter is strictly bilateral and must be resolved solely between India and Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed.”

He further said that India’s only outstanding issue with Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir is the return of territory under illegal occupation . “The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.

The MEA spokesperson reiterated that there is “no change” in India’s policy on the issue. “Our long-standing position is that the Kashmir issue has to be addressed bilaterally between India and Pakistan; that position has not changed,” he noted.