India objects to US envoy visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

New Delhi, Oct 07: India on Friday objected US ambassador's recent visit to Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir where he repeatedly referred to the region as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have an objection regarding the recent visit and meetings of the US Ambassador to Pakistan to PoK and we have conveyed the same to them," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi at a media briefing.

American ambassador Donald Blome visited Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) October 2-4 to promote the U.S.-Pakistan partnership and highlight the two countries' deep economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties.

This is the second visit by a US official to PoK.

The US envoy throughout mentioned PoK as AJK (Azad Jammu and Kashmir), which is offensive to New Delhi as it holds that the region was forcibly occupied by Pakistan in 1947.

Asked about Washington's decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet, Bagchi said the US is aware of India's views and concerns on the matter.

"I would say that our views on the issue are very well known to the US side," he said.

The US plans to provide Foreign Military Sales (FMS) worth USD 450 million for hardware, software and spares for Pakistan's F-16 fighter fleet.

Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin India's concerns over Washington's decision to provide a financial package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet.

Asked about Russia annexing four Ukrainian regions, Bagchi said India's overall position has been clear and consistent from the very beginning of the conflict.