India airs concern over Chinese plans

India has again expressed concern over Chinese plans to develop a China-Pakistan transport and infrastructure corridor passing through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect during the just concluded Islamabad visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

India has again expressed concern over Chinese plans to develop a China-Pakistan transport and infrastructure corridor passing through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect during the just concluded Islamabad visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

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While India doesn't have an issue with Sino-Pak economic projects, it has concerns when PoK is involved, said foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai.

Keqiang, who concluded his two-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday, called on both countries to " start formulating a long-term plan for the China-Pakistan economic corridor project and gradually push forward its construction. "

The corridor will link China's far-western Xinjiang region to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, managed by the Chinese. Gwadar is close to Iran's Chabahar port, being developed with Indian assistance.

The proposed corridor will pass through PoK, which borders Xinjiang. Although India has raised the issue several times, including at Keqiang's latest India visit, Beijing maintains that its actions in PoK are "civilian in nature" and has no military aspect to it whatsoever.