India objects to Chinese activities in PoK

New Delhi:Hitting back at China, India today took objection to its engagement in projects in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and asked it to cease such activities taking "long-term view" of India-China relations.

A day after China objected to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, External Affairs Ministry took a strong view of President Hu Jintao's remarks that China will continue to engage in projects with Pakistan inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

"Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947. The Chinese side is fully aware of India's position and our concerns about Chinese activities in Pakistan occupied Kashmir," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in a statement.

"We hope that the Chinese side will take a long term view of the India-China relations and cease such activities in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said.

The Chinese President, during a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani yesterday, outlined a major project to upgrade the Karakoram highway connecting the two countries overland and Chinese help in the Neelam-Jhelum hydroelectric project in PoK.

"Howsoever, the international situation may change. The people of China and Pakistan are always joined in hearts and hands," Hu had said.