Gilgit-Baltistan part of J and K: India

New Delhi, Mar 10: India today (Mar 10, 2006) reaffirmed that the Gilgit-Baltistan region is a part of Jammu and Kashmir state which, on the basis of its accession in 1947, is an intergral part of the country.

''We would like to reaffirm that the region of Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which, on the basis of its accession in 1947, is an integral part of India,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in reply to a questtion.

The spokesman was commenting on reports that some Pakistani Missions were circulating a new map of Jammu and Kashmir depicting the so called Northern Areas of Gilgit-Baltistan as a separate entity and only the rest of the J and K as a state.

''We have seen the reports in the Pakistani media,'' the spokesman said.

He said the Pakistan Foreign Office had, however, denied that that it had circulated any new map.

UNI