On Sunday, India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told journalists in Delhi that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken up the issue of the $46bn corridor running from Gwadar to China’s Xinjiang region with the Chinese government and had termed it “unacceptable” — a stance which has been criticized by Pakistan.
Even though India’s concerns appear to be rooted in a territorial dispute as it claims the corridor will run through Pakistan-Kashmir region, such an attitude is both petty and unfortunate.
The objections to CPEC by India are also a reflection of the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry while rejecting baseless remarks made by the Indian external affairs minister asserted that India has no right to make statement on CPEC (Pakistan China Economic Corridor) whatsoever.
While responding to media queries regarding the statement made by the Indian minister in his parliament relating to Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Afghanistan situation and CPEC, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said so.
Zahid also said that spewing false claims and accusations by India can neither change the fact nor divert attention from India’s illegal occupation of the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“Jammu and Kashmir remain an internationally recognized dispute, pending resolution in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir,” asserted the minister.
He also explained the significance of CPEC and said that no Indian propaganda can subvert peace and prosperity brought up by CPEC which is a flagship project under Belt and Road Initiative.
He also mentioned India’s hypocrisy on the matter of Afghanistan and explained its role as “spoiler” in the region.
