NEW DELHI: In a transfer labelled as “unacceptable,” the Government of India (GoI) has expressed deep concern over the latest go to of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Jane Marriott, to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on January 10, 2024, accompanied by a UK Foreign Office official.
Violation Of India’s Sovereignty: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swiftly issued an announcement condemning the go to, emphasizing that such actions signify a blatant infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Foreign Secretary lodged a sturdy protest with the British High Commissioner in India relating to this matter. ”Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable. The Foreign Secretary has lodged a powerful protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this infringement,” the MEA assertion stated.
India has taken a severe word of the extremely objectionable go to of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, together with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 10 January 2024. Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is… pic.twitter.com/2wIDNKMvhA
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2024
Justification And Backlash
The controversy arose after Marriott visited Mirpur in PoK, the place she defended her presence by stating, “70 per cent of British Pakistani roots are from Mirpur, making our work together crucial for diaspora interests.” However, her assertion did little to quell the backlash, as social media customers in India criticized her go to, with some deeming it “shameful.”
Public Outcry And Comparison With Previous Incidents
This is not the primary time such a diplomatic incident has occurred. In October of the earlier 12 months, India expressed discontent over the tour of PoK by the US envoy to Pakistan, Donald Blome. Pictures of Blome interacting with locals in PoK’s Gilgit-Baltistan final month heightened tensions, as India considers the area an integral a part of its territory. The US envoy’s go to, stored beneath wraps initially, additional fueled objections from the Indian authorities.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, on the time, expressed India’s objections, stating, “We have objections regarding the visit and the meetings in PoK by the US envoy and we have conveyed the same.”
Historic Appointment Amidst Controversy
Notably, Jane Marriott holds the excellence of being the primary girl British High Commissioner to Pakistan. Her groundbreaking function has, nevertheless, been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding her go to to PoK, elevating questions on diplomatic protocol and the implications for Indo-UK relations.
This incident provides to a collection of diplomatic challenges within the area, prompting a reassessment of the norms and pointers governing diplomatic visits to disputed territories. The repercussions of such actions on worldwide relations stay to be seen as India firmly asserts its objection to any encroachment on its territorial integrity.
