Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of about 78 thousand sq. km of Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir since 1948.

Indian territory under Chinese occupation in the State since 1962 is nearly 38 thousand sq. km.

Giving this information in the Lok Sabha today, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna said that under the so-called China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded five thousand one hundred eighty sq. km of Indian territory in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to China.

He denied any Indian land under Bangladesh's illegal occupation. But he said there have been pockets along the India-Bangladesh border which have traditionally been under the possession of people of one country in the territory of another.

These are known as Adverse Possessions. Mr. Krishna said India considers boundary issues as bilateral matters with the concerned country.

The government has set up mechanisms to settle these boundary issues with the countries concerned. No third party role is envisaged in the matter.

The government does not encourage discussions on these matters with a third country or by international organisations, he said.