India on Saturday lodged a formal protest with the British high commissioner in New Delhi about the visit of his counterpart in Pakistan to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on January 10, billing it an infringement on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Britain’s high commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, visited Mirpur in PoK on Wednesday. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she said: “Salaam from Mirpur, the heart of the UK and Pakistan’s people to people ties! 70% of British Pakistani roots are from Mirpur, making our work together crucial for diaspora interests. Thank you for your hospitality!"

The external affairs ministry said the foreign secretary had lodged a “strong protest" with the British high commissioner in India on this infringement. “Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable," the ministry said, adding that “the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are, have been and shall always remain an integral part of India".

India had similarly raised objections over the US ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome’s visit to Gilgit Baltistan last year and Muzaffarabad in 2022; protesting also his use of “Azad Jammu & Kashmir” — the Pakistani name for the region.