Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) completely rejected China’s claim on Shaksgam Valley and said that the entire area of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India. He also made it clear that any expansionist attempt will not be tolerated.
In view of India’s objections, China on Monday (January 12, 2026) reiterated its territorial claims on Shaksgam Valley, insisting that Chinese infrastructure projects in the region are beyond doubt.
This is the India of 2026, not 1962: Lieutenant Governor
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said, ‘The entire Kashmir (including the part occupied by Pakistan) is ours. We do not know what deal Pakistan has made with China. China should understand that its expansionist policy will achieve nothing. India is capable. This is not the India of 1962, this is the India of 2026. Any such attempt will be foiled. The Ministry of External Affairs is taking cognizance of this.
He said, ‘Any such act will not be tolerated and China will have to understand that today India is much stronger than before. China had earlier also claimed some parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Kavinder Gupta also targeted PAK
Meanwhile, targeting Pakistan, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta alleged that the neighboring country has betrayed its own people and is involved in suspicious activities. He said, ‘Pakistan is a country which is being sold. He does not care about his sovereignty or his people. Voices are being raised in Balochistan, Sindh and Karachi and atrocities are being committed there by the Pakistani Army. Those areas are virtually ruled by the army.
Lieutenant Governor reacted to Army Chief’s statement on Operation Sindoor
Cautioning against provocative statements on sensitive issues, Gupta said that Parliament has a clear stand on PoK. He said, ‘Such statements should not be made which are of inflammatory nature. There is a parliamentary resolution of 1994, which clearly says that the entire PoK belongs to India.
At the same time, reacting to the recent statement of the Army Chief (in which it has been said that Operation Sindoor is going on), the Lieutenant Governor said that the armed forces have full national support. He said, ‘The entire country stands with the army. The Army Chief has given a responsible statement and I welcome it.
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