GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1128

ANSWERED ON:25.11.2009

CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE BY CHINA IN POK

(a) whether China is going ahead with projects in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir region;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the date on which said projects were started;

(c) whether the Government of India has taken up this matter with the Government of China to stop the work on the said projects and

(d) if so, whether the work on the said projects has been stopped?

(e) the measures taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) to (e) China has engaged in the construction of a number of projects in the Pakistan occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the 1960s, including, inter alia, Karakoram Highway, Mangla Dam Raising Project, Neelum-Jelum Hydropower Project, Muzaffarabad City Development Project, Naltar Hydropower Project and Buji Hydropower Project. China regards Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled between India and Pakistan. Government’s consistent position is that Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. Government has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, and asked them cease such activities.