The deepening economic and defence ties China and Russia are pursuing with Pakistan is worrying New Delhi and it is preparing to convey its concerns to Moscow and Beijing through diplomatic channels.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Islamabad early next week is expected to add momentum to the ambitious project of building an economic corridor linking northwestern China with southern Pakistan.
Beijing is understood to be planning to spend $46 billion for a series of infrastructure projects along the proposed economic corridor, which passes through areas, which India accuses Pakistan of illegally occupying. Xi’s visit to Islamabad is also likely see Beijing announcing its plan to supply eight submarines to Pakistan Navy.
Russia too of late moved to step up its defence ties with Pakistan and the two countries this week agreed to hold their first ever joint military exercise. Moscow is also purportedly planning to invest $2 billion to lay a Liquefied Natural Gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore.
Sources told Deccan Herald that New Delhi would lodge a strong protest with Beijing if the projects to be announced during Chinese President’s visit to Islamabad included any in Azad Kashmir.
This could even cast a shadow over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China next month, added sources.
New Delhi is likely to reiterate that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and any project undertaken by Pakistan — either on its own or in cooperation with China or any other country — in the territory under its “illegal occupation” would have “no legal basis and is completely unacceptable”.
India had previously conveyed to China its concerns about Chinese companies’ growing role in building infrastructure in Azad Kashmir.
The proposed projects include upgrading Karakoram Highway and construction of a 487 km-long highway from Raikot in Azad Kashmir to Islamabad – both by China Road and Bridge Corporation.
The Chinese government also launched a preliminary study on the feasibility of a project to lay a 1800-kilometer-long rail-line to link Kashgar in China and Gwadar Port on the southwestern coast of Pakistan through the Azad Kashmir.
India worried as China, Russia expand ties with Pakistan