Paksistan handing over control over large parts of POK To China - An Independent report

[Anonymous]

China's Discreet Hold on Pakistan's Northern Borderlands By SELIG S. HARRISON Published: August 26, 2010 While the world focuses on the flood-ravaged Indus River valley, a quiet geopolitical crisis is unfolding in the Himalayan borderlands of northern Pakistan, where Islamabad is handing over de facto control of the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region in the northwest corner of disputed Kashmir to China. The entire Pakistan-occupied western portion of Kashmir stretching from Gilgit in the north to Azad (Free) Kashmir in the south is closed to the world, in contrast to the media access that India permits in the eastern part, where it is combating a Pakistan-backed insurgency. But reports from a variety of foreign intelligence sources, Pakistani journalists and Pakistani human rights workers reveal two important new developments in Gilgit-Baltistan: a simmering rebellion against Pakistani rule and the influx of an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army. China wants a grip on the region to assure unfettered road and rail access to the Gulf through Pakistan. It takes 16 to 25 days for Chinese oil tankers to reach the Gulf. When high-speed rail and road links through Gilgit and Baltistan are completed, China will be able to transport cargo from Eastern China to the new Chinese-built Pakistani naval bases at Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara, just east of the Gulf, within 48 hours. Many of the P.L.A. soldiers entering Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to work on the railroad. Some are extending the Karakoram Highway, built to link China’s Sinkiang Province with Pakistan. Others are working on dams, expressways and other projects. Mystery surrounds the construction of 22 tunnels in secret locations where Pakistanis are barred. Tunnels would be necessary for a projected gas pipeline from Iran to China that would cross the Himalayas through Gilgit. But they could also be used for missile storage sites. Until recently, the P.L.A. construction crews lived in temporary encampments and went home after completing their assignments. Now they are building big residential enclaves clearly designed for a long-term presence. What is happening in the region matters to Washington for two reasons. Coupled with its support for the Taliban, Islamabad’s collusion in facilitating China’s access to the Gulf makes clear that Pakistan is not a U.S. “ally.†Equally important, the nascent revolt in the Gilgit-Baltistan region is a reminder that Kashmiri demands for autonomy on both sides of the cease-fire line would have to be addressed in a settlement. Media attention has exposed the repression of the insurgency in the Indian-ruled Kashmir Valley. But if reporters could get into the Gilgit-Baltistan region and Azad Kashmir, they would find widespread, brutally-suppressed local movements for democratic rights and regional autonomy. When the British partitioned South Asia in 1947, the maharajah who ruled Kashmir, including Gilgit and Baltistan, acceded to India. This set off intermittent conflict that ended with Indian control of the Kashmir Valley, the establishment of Pakistan-sponsored Free Kashmir in western Kashmir, and Pakistan’s occupation of Gilgit and Baltistan, where Sunni jihadi groups allied with the Pakistan Army have systematically terrorized the local Shiite Muslims. Gilgit and Baltistan are in effect under military rule. Democratic activists there want a legislature and other institutions without restrictions like the ones imposed on Free Kashmir, where the elected legislature controls only 4 out of 56 subjects covered in the state constitution. The rest are under the jurisdiction of a “Kashmir Council†appointed by the president of Pakistan. India gives more power to the state government in Srinagar; elections there are widely regarded as fair, and open discussion of demands for autonomy is permitted. But the Pakistan-abetted insurgency in the Kashmir Valley has added to tensions between Indian occupation forces and an assertive population seeking greater of local autonomy. The United States is uniquely situated to play a moderating role in Kashmir, given its growing economic and military ties with India and Pakistan’s aid dependence on Washington. Such a role should be limited to quiet diplomacy. Washington should press New Delhi to resume autonomy negotiations with Kashmiri separatists. Success would put pressure on Islamabad for comparable concessions in Free Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. In Pakistan, Washington should focus on getting Islamabad to stop aiding the insurgency in the Kashmir Valley and to give New Delhi a formal commitment that it will not annex Gilgit and Baltistan. Precisely because the Gilgit-Baltistan region is so important to China, the United States, India and Pakistan should work together to make sure that it is not overwhelmed, like Tibet, by the Chinese behemoth. Selig S. Harrison is director of the Asia Program at the Center for International Policy and a former South Asia bureau chief of The Washington Post.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/opinion/27iht-edharrison.html?ref=pakistan Nothing new, but the enormity is detailed in this independent news report. China will always be our nemesis and will go to any extent to protect their interests. The other day I was watching a debate on the Kashmiri upsrising/stone pelting saga and there were young kashmiris venting their anger on the Indian state. I sympathise with them for the human rights violations that have happened and hope we find a solution to put an end to all this savagery. But, one thing that struck me was the way in which holier-than-thou pakistan is controling POK. Moreover, people protesting should also realise that we are one of the most tolerant countries in the world and sometimes even politically spineless. Imagine what would have happen had we followed the chinese method of oppression in tibet? Are we that incapable to change the demographics of the valley by settling in people from other parts of India? Yes, there have been atrocities by armed forces, but its two way traffic. Personally, I think the time has come to bite the bullet and take decisions that can put an end to all this insanity. I dont want my countrymen dying in a godforsaken place and nor do i want my taxes go down the drain in developing that place whose inhabitants think they are not Indian.

[Clarke]

The Pakistan Foreign Office strongly denied the news propagated in the US and Indian media claiming that ‘Galgit Baltistan’ region had been handed over to China, on Tuesday. “The Chinese were working on landslide, flood hit areas and on the destroyed Korakoram Highway with the permission of Pakistani Government,” said Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/44-pakistan-denies-giving-gilgit-baltistan-to-china-fa-08 Its a RAW/CIA conspiracy as usual :aetsch: Funny thing is, Americans control the Jacobabad Air Base in the south while the Chinese build/control in the north .. hope this does not turn out to be another Korea/Vietnam/Afghanistan.

Moreover, people protesting should also realise that we are one of the most tolerant countries in the world and sometimes even politically spineless. Imagine what would have happen had we followed the chinese method of oppression in tibet? Are we that incapable to change the demographics of the valley by settling in people from other parts of India? Yes, there have been atrocities by armed forces, but its two way traffic.

Havent u heard : Kashmir mein rehna hai to allah hu akbar kehna hai. Those religious loonies will never understand tolerance or secularism. The injustice in Kashmir i believe is no different 4m many other parts of the country but that does not mean secession will lead to peace and prosperity. A small piece of land surrounded (and desired) by 3 nuclear powers ?

Personally, I think the time has come to bite the bullet and take decisions that can put an end to all this insanity. I dont want my countrymen dying in a godforsaken place and nor do i want my taxes go down the drain in developing that place whose inhabitants think they are not Indian.

++ Article 370 is junk.

[achilles]

India needs to stop relying on US pressure to get things done, they are going to protect their interests first and no third party actually gives a damn about this issue. We are 2nd Fastest growing economy in the world and we need to find our Spinal Cord.

[Anonymous]

Article 370 is junk.

Couldnt agree more...and lol, as usual chinese angels are at work according to the pakis..

[someone]

India needs to stop relying on US pressure to get things done' date=' they are going to protect their interests first and no third party actually gives a damn about this issue. We are 2nd Fastest growing economy in the world and we need to find our Spinal Cord.[/quote'] Yes exactly, you are a student, you cannot always go to the principal when another student starts bullying you and hurting you. You have got to stand up for yourself and defend yourself. So India improve your own defenses rather than blaming external areas to take away your self responsibliity

[suraj]

Maybe someone told them that the trend is outsourcing so next thing they went to China!!!