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NEW DELHI: India summoned the Pakistan deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah on Sunday to protest against a recent Pakistan government order to change the status of Gilgit-Baltistan.

India told the Pakistani diplomat that the entire state of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and Islamabad had no legal basis for its actions.

"Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," the MEA said.

In an order on May 21, the Pakistan cabinet said Gilgit-Baltistan would enjoy the same rights as the other four provinces — a move regarded as a way to integrate the disputed territory into Pakistan.

"It (Cabinet) was also informed that with the devolution of greater administrative and financial powers to the government of Gilgit-Baltistan, all the rights will be available to the citizens in Gilgit-Baltistan as available to the people in other provinces of Pakistan," said an official statement.

Pakistan had been planning to integrate this area to make it easier for China’s CPEC corridor to pass through it.

India remains opposed to China’s corridor because of the sovereignty aspect. India maintains that any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region, bordering the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as the fifth province is "entirely unacceptable".

According to Pakistan media reports, President Manmoon Hussain would issue a notification to this effect, but that is still awaited.

Under the new order, all powers exercised by the Gilgit Baltistan council, including passing legislation regarding mineral, hydropower and tourism sectors, have been shifted to the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly, said reports.

