NEW DELHI: In a move labelled as “unacceptable,” the Government of India (GoI) has expressed deep concern over the recent visit 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 a statement condemning the visit, emphasizing that such actions represent a blatant infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Foreign Secretary lodged a robust protest with the British High Commissioner in India regarding this matter. ”Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable. The Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this infringement,” the MEA statement said. 

India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along 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, where 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 statement did little to quell the backlash, as social media users in India criticized her visit, with some deeming it “shameful.”

Public Outcry And Comparison With Previous Incidents

This isn’t the first time such a diplomatic incident has occurred. In October of the previous year, 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 last month heightened tensions, as India considers the region an integral part of its territory. The US envoy’s visit, kept under wraps initially, further fueled objections from the Indian government.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, at 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 distinction of being the first woman British High Commissioner to Pakistan. Her groundbreaking role has, however, been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding her visit to PoK, raising questions about diplomatic protocol and the implications for Indo-UK relations.

This incident adds to a series of diplomatic challenges in the region, prompting a reassessment of the norms and guidelines governing diplomatic visits to disputed territories. The repercussions of such actions on international relations remain to be seen as India firmly asserts its objection to any encroachment on its territorial integrity.