Chinese Presence in GB(Gilgit-Baltistan) Yajin Bhatt |
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One of the Camp of Chinese CRBC at Nagar(GB) |
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hen the north block is shining in vivid lights for 64th Republic day, the entire Vijay Chock and India gate area has been relieved from sec 144 (IPC) only a few days before. This area has been in the limelight for last 40 days, initially, for the massive protests, later, for the republic day rehearsals and now for the final day parade. Whole nation is celebrating 26th January with lots of pride and jubilance. The huge show of strength and the defence credibility which is being exhibited on the day should augur squarely, to combat not only internal but external antinational forces. Fortunately, The Indian subcontinent occupies a strategic position in the Asian continent. It is abundantly rich in the natural resources, mineral ores, the mountains, forests and coastal rich. At the same time it is favourably situated on the world’s highways of trade and commerce both to the east and west. Although separated from the rest of Asia by lofty mountain barriers of Himalyas, it has God given road accesses (mountain passes) to almost all the major parts of this world.
As rightly said, that we can change friends but not the neighbours. accordingly, at one end where Pak army is provoking India by barbaric acts of beheading our soldiers and Chinese army are restricting our engineers to carry out road works at the border areas. Although, India has chosen this dragon nation as the trusted business partner, in most crucial field of communication and their involvement and presence in the core network of cellular technology, despite successive warnings and doubts raised by our Home affairs on their credibility. In addition to economic confrontation china has again become aggressive enough to interfere in the India’s borders. First it was the increased movement of Chinese forces in the north-east area of our country that created a great security concern. Now this country is undertaking massive road construction and renovation work in GB area. A senior official of China roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC) recently Mr.Liu Chongze visited Gilgit city of GB and took stock of reconstruction of Karakoram highway (KKH) which is being repaired and reconstructed by the CRBC. During his visit Mr.Liu met with the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Watloo at Islamabad and also met with the CM of GB Sayed Mehdi Shah at Gilgit and discussed the future course of action regarding the reconstruction of KKH. This million dollar road construction project enable China to have easy access to the Pakistan and the gulf countries, from where China will manage to control the Oil and the natural gas of the area. This massive road construction will also help China to build Strong military structures in GB. On 28th September 2012 Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf launched two multi-million dollar strategic projects in Gilgit-Baltistan region aimed at restoring the Karakorum Highway that links Pakistan with China. Chinese company CRBC awarded the construction of new 17-km section of the Karakoram Highway that will replace a 25-km section that was submerged by the Attabad Lake formed as a result of landslides.
Although the work on KKH expansion has already begun, no EIA report has been made public. The issue of environmental sensitivities of the project was not raised anywhere. These involve impact on watershed areas of Indus River, endangered wildlife in Khunjerab and Central Karakoram National Park area, environmental contamination, waste water and solid waste of camps. Other than the environmental impact of KKH expansion, cultural and historical heritage is also endangered, as the expanded KKH will pass through some of the sites and villages having archaeological and historical importance. Elimination of this historical record will make the region impoverished in terms of cultural history. The most dangerous aspect of this connectivity will be the military establishment by China to Target India and to control Indian movement around GB. It will also help China to have its easy reach up to the Gulf and by virtue of that China will increase its trade and will control the market and the oil and the natural gas resources in the Gulf.
Undoubtedly, our civil as well as Military Engineers are proficient enough to dig out roads, bridges at the most inaccessible and backward areas. It is perhaps due to the lack of will or proper policy making and future strategy at the administrative level that the required road building projects have not been embarked upon in the border areas near Gilgit-Baluchistan (GB), which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan. Strategically this is must for India for lot many reasons firstly, it will provide road connectivity with the rest of the world which subsequently will help India in securing its place as the upcoming superpower in the world map. Secondly country will have smooth access to its hilly terrains which are under illegal occupation of China and Pakistan. Thirdly, it is must for security reason and trade with the rest of world. Another important aspect, We will have no dependency on Pakistan, for Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and also the progress of the bilateral ties in energy, trade, economic cooperation and other fields with immediate and next neighbours like Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and others.
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*Rajesh T Bhatt (freelancer), a Kashmir valley resident from Anantnag, Education: Post graduate in computer Science, working with Telecom sector for last 8 years. Father retired from defence services. Presently living in Delhi with his family. |
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