ID :
79561
Sat, 09/12/2009 - 01:52
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/79561
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India lodges protests with Pak over its Northern Areas package
New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) India Friday lodged protest with
Pakistan over its reform package for Northern Areas and the
decision to construct a power plant with Chinese help in the
region which is under "illegal occupation" of that country.
Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Rifat Masood was
summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs where the
diplomatic protest letters were handed over to her.
"The government of India protested through diplomatic
channels today against the government of Pakistan's so-called
'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order-
2009'," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral
part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. The
so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance
Order- 2009' is yet another cosmetic exercise intended to
camouflage Pakistan's illegal occupation," it said.
The reforms and self-governance package, which was
approved on August 29, is seen as a step towards merger of the
Northern Areas with Pakistan. Northern Areas, which are part
of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, have so far been directly ruled
by Islamabad.
"The government of India lodged a protest over the
proposed construction of the Bunji Hydro-electric Project in a
part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal
occupation of Pakistan," External Affairs Ministry spokesman
Vishnu Prakash said.
He did not elaborate but sources said that India treats
as illegal any activity of that kind in the parts which
actually belong to it.
The 7,000 MW power project is proposed to be constructed
with Chinese help on 'Build, Operate, Own and Transfer' (BOOT)
basis. An MoU in this regard was signed during President Asif
Ali Zardari's visit to China last month.
The project is estimated to cost between six to seven
billion dollars and all the investment will be made by Chinese
entrepreneurs.
The MoU has been signed between Pakistan's Water and
Power Ministry and China's Three Gorges Project Corporation
that has recently built the world's largest hydro power
project in China -- capable of generating over 22,000 MW of
electricity -- and a water reservoir spread over 650 sq km.
Earlier, India has lodged its protests over proposed
construction of Neelum-Jhelum Power Project and Basha Dam in
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. PTI AKK
PMR
Pakistan over its reform package for Northern Areas and the
decision to construct a power plant with Chinese help in the
region which is under "illegal occupation" of that country.
Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Rifat Masood was
summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs where the
diplomatic protest letters were handed over to her.
"The government of India protested through diplomatic
channels today against the government of Pakistan's so-called
'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order-
2009'," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral
part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. The
so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance
Order- 2009' is yet another cosmetic exercise intended to
camouflage Pakistan's illegal occupation," it said.
The reforms and self-governance package, which was
approved on August 29, is seen as a step towards merger of the
Northern Areas with Pakistan. Northern Areas, which are part
of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, have so far been directly ruled
by Islamabad.
"The government of India lodged a protest over the
proposed construction of the Bunji Hydro-electric Project in a
part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal
occupation of Pakistan," External Affairs Ministry spokesman
Vishnu Prakash said.
He did not elaborate but sources said that India treats
as illegal any activity of that kind in the parts which
actually belong to it.
The 7,000 MW power project is proposed to be constructed
with Chinese help on 'Build, Operate, Own and Transfer' (BOOT)
basis. An MoU in this regard was signed during President Asif
Ali Zardari's visit to China last month.
The project is estimated to cost between six to seven
billion dollars and all the investment will be made by Chinese
entrepreneurs.
The MoU has been signed between Pakistan's Water and
Power Ministry and China's Three Gorges Project Corporation
that has recently built the world's largest hydro power
project in China -- capable of generating over 22,000 MW of
electricity -- and a water reservoir spread over 650 sq km.
Earlier, India has lodged its protests over proposed
construction of Neelum-Jhelum Power Project and Basha Dam in
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. PTI AKK
PMR
