J&K also includes Gilgit-Baltistan: India to Pakistan

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah over Islamabad's Gilgit-Baltistan order and told him that any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under his country's forcible occupation has no legal basis.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it conveyed to the Pakistan envoy that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.

"Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the MEA said.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has seized more authority from the local council to deal with the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan through its order on the region on May 21

Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order.

The ministry said it was also conveyed to the Pakistani deputy envoy that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan-occupied territories.

(With inputs from PTI)