Full Breakdown
Pakistan and China Activate Boundary Joint Commission, Prompting Indian Rejection
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Pakistan-China Joint Commission Operationalised
Pakistan and China have formally operationalised the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, a mechanism first envisaged in the 1963 Sino-Pakistani treaty. The commission will oversee border management, joint surveys and connectivity across the Pakistan-China frontier, including the Shaksgam Valley – a roughly 5,180 sq km area ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963 but claimed by India as part of Ladakh. Pakistan described the move as a “significant milestone” for cooperation, while India dismissed it as “without any legal basis.”
Historical Background of the Dispute
India has never recognised the 1963 agreement that transferred the Shaksgam Valley to China, arguing that the territory was part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and was illegally occupied by Pakistan before the cession. Pakistan, however, maintains that Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory, giving it standing to negotiate with China. The joint commission revives a provision of the original treaty that called for renegotiation once the Kashmir dispute is settled.
Official Reactions
The Indian foreign ministry added that any attempt to legitimise what Delhi calls Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Indian territory is unacceptable. Pakistan, for its part, framed the commission as a practical step to enhance border security and protect infrastructure such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Expert Analysis
Professor Jabin T Jacob of Shiv Nadar University warned that the timing may reflect China’s broader strategy to demarcate borders and shape the international information environment in its favour. Former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. Husain Haqqani described the commission as both practical and political, noting it deepens ties with Pakistan and signals a two-front strategic concern for India. He cautioned that the move does not immediately alter the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is a combination of both,” — Karakoram Highway. Husain Haqqani — Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. and senior fellow at Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Hudson Institute
- “China has never accepted India's position on Kashmir and China views Gilgit-Baltistan from the Pakistani, not Indian prism,” — Karakoram Highway. Husain Haqqani — Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. and senior fellow at Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Hudson Institute
- “China always plans its decisions months, if not years, in advance so the decision to operationalise a joint boundary commission must have been made some time back," says Haqqani.” — Karakoram Highway. Husain Haqqani — Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. and senior fellow at Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Hudson Institute