Continuing its newfound pro-active stance, India on Friday said the Gilgit-Baltistan region known as Northern Areas is a part of Jammu and Kashmir and hence an integral part of India. In response to a question, official spokesman of Ministry of External Affairs said India has seen Pakistani media reports that some Pakistani missions are circulating new map of Jammu and Kashmir depicting the Northern Areas as a separate entity. The spokesman, while taking note that Pakistan Foreign Office has denied it has circulated any new map, affirmed that the region was an integral part of India. “We would like to reaffirm that the region of Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, which on the basis of its accession in 1947 is an integral part of India,” the spokesman said.