India slams Pak's Gilgit-Baltistan order

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to protest against the new Gilgit-Baltistan order that takes away most of the powers from the local councils in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was clearly conveyed 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," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation, it said.

The Gilgit-Baltistan order, 2018 robs the powers of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and entrusts these powers to the prime minister of Pakistan.

The order was officially promulgated on May 21.

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.