The central government expressed its strong objection on Saturday to the recent visit by the British envoy to Islamabad to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). The UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, visited Mirpur on January 10, a move that the Ministry of External Affairs deemed "highly objectionable" and characterized as an "infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."
In response to this perceived infringement, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra conveyed a robust protest to the British High Commissioner in India, as outlined in the ministry's statement. Emphasizing the integral nature of the Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh within India, the External Affairs Ministry reiterated their perpetual status as an integral part of the country.
Following her visit to the region, Jane Marriott shared images on social media, stating that 70% of British Pakistani roots have ties to Mirpur. She expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the significance of the UK-Pakistan people-to-people ties.
The British envoy's visit drew criticism on social media, with users deeming it "shameful" that the UK government sent representatives to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Some even called for action against Jane Marriott, urging British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to intervene.
This incident parallels a similar occurrence in October 2023 when the US envoy to Pakistan, David Blome, visited Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The central government had raised the matter with US authorities, reiterating that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir remains an "integral part of India."
