Pakistan, China reject held Kashmir bifurcation.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan and China on Thursday rejected bifurcation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, saying Indian action was illegal and void.

The statements from Islamabad and Beijing came as India put into effect the bifurcation of occupied Kashmir into Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the lieutenant governors for the new territories took the oath of office in Srinagar and Leh.

The division has been done under 'The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019' that was introduced in Indian parliament simultaneously with the abolition of Article 370 through a presidential order on Aug 5. The legislation splitting held Kashmir into two new UTs received Indian president's assent on Aug 9, after both houses of Indian parliament passed it. It, however, took effect from Oct 31.

Term Indian action illegal and void; Islamabad says move violates UN Security Council's resolutions, bilateral agreements

Pakistan's Foreign Office in its reaction said the bifurcation of the occupied region did not alter its disputed status as it had been split in violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements, including Shimla accord.

The Chinese foreign ministry said Indian action was 'not effective in any way'.

Both Pakistan and China had in August rejected the annulment of Article 370 and the announcement to divide the occupied region.

The FO in its statement on the latest development said that 'Pakistan rejects the bifurcation of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories' as occupied valley was an internationally recognised disputed territory. 'No step by the government of India can change this. These changes are illegal and void as per the relevant UNSC resolutions, and do not prejudice the right to self-determination of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir,' it further said.

The FO noted that the measures announced by the Indian government on Aug 5 regarding the revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of occupied Jammu and Kashmir had been imposed on the Kashmiris through 'the barrel of gun'.

It recalled that India had reinforced its troops deployment in the world's most militarised zone, taking their numbers to over 900,000 and imposed a lockdown on the occupied valley with curfews, communication blockade and arrests of thousands of political leaders and civil society members to suppress opposition to its actions by the local population.

Most of those...