India summons Pak deputy envoy to protest its 'Gilgit Baltistan Order'

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner to register a strong protest against the Pakistani government for issuing a so-called “Gilgit Baltistan Order 2018”. Pakistan was told “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” and that “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.” Pakistan was also asked to “immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation”.

According to news agency reports, through its order on Gilgit-Baltistan on May 21, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has seized more authority from the local council to deal with the affairs of the region. Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order. Pakistani media reports said protests are taking place in the region.

Observers feel New Delhi is paying back Islamabad in its own coin, with Pakistan leaving no stone unturned in recent times to issue provocative statements on developments in Jammu and Kashmir.