India takes up Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir projects with China, envoy summoned

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China, India has strongly taken up with Beijing its ambitious plan to create a new economic corridor through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. New Delhi summoned the Chinese ambassador to lodge a protest.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has said that India not only took up the matter of new Chinese infrastructure projects with its ambassador in New Delhi but has also asked its envoy in Beijing to take up the issue.

This comes days after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan and announced a strategic economic corridor for an estimated $46 billion that would pass through PoK. Pakistan also announced the setting up of new infantry units dedicated to protection of Chinese workers and engineers dedicated to the project that would link its Gwadar port to the Chinese mainland.

“The matter is being taken up through the diplomatic channel. It has also been taken up by our ambassador in Beijing,” Jaishankar said at a news conference ahead of PM Modi’s three-day tour to Mongolia, China and South Korea.

During the China visit, investments worth $10 billion are likely to be announced, including agreements on high-speed rail network.