International
Pak
PM inaugurates China-Pakistan ‘Economic Corridor’ project
• China and Pakistan have kicked off
their multi-billion dollar ‘Economic Corridor’ project that passes through
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by laying the foundation of a fenced four-lane
motorway, setting in motion a mammoth project connecting the two countries.
• Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking of a section of the motorway in the country’s northwest, signalling the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement.
• The 60-km-long, 4-lane fenced Hazara Motorway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will cost $297 million and will take two years to complete.
• During his China visit earlier this month, Mr. Sharif signed deals worth $45.6 billion that included projects connected with the Corridor, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
• India has expressed its reservations to China over the project as it is laid through the PoK.
• But, China defended the project saying it will help regional development. Sceptics in both the countries, however, point to the rising tide of extremism in Pakistan which makes its construction extremely difficult.
• The tenuous political and security situation in Pakistan prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to cancel his trip to Islamabad in September during which he visited the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.
• During his November 8 visit to China, Mr. Sharif has promised full security to Chinese personnel involved in construction of the mammoth project.
• Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called the Corridor a “flagship” project to strengthen China’s connectivity with neighbouring countries and an initiative set to aid strategic framework for pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.
• Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking of a section of the motorway in the country’s northwest, signalling the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement.
• The 60-km-long, 4-lane fenced Hazara Motorway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will cost $297 million and will take two years to complete.
• During his China visit earlier this month, Mr. Sharif signed deals worth $45.6 billion that included projects connected with the Corridor, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
• India has expressed its reservations to China over the project as it is laid through the PoK.
• But, China defended the project saying it will help regional development. Sceptics in both the countries, however, point to the rising tide of extremism in Pakistan which makes its construction extremely difficult.
• The tenuous political and security situation in Pakistan prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to cancel his trip to Islamabad in September during which he visited the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.
• During his November 8 visit to China, Mr. Sharif has promised full security to Chinese personnel involved in construction of the mammoth project.
• Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called the Corridor a “flagship” project to strengthen China’s connectivity with neighbouring countries and an initiative set to aid strategic framework for pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.
Afghanistan
expressed unhappiness with India over delay in arms supply
• Afghanistan’s new regime has
expressed unhappiness over India’s delay in supply of military hardware as it
grapples with intensified Taliban attacks ahead of the U.S.-led NATO troop
drawdown from the war-torn country.
• Giving an indication of the new government’s policy towards India, adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Daoud Sultanzoy, said the relationship would be based on “reciprocity” and that New Delhi can play a vital role in ensuring peace in the region.
• Asked whether Afghanistan was disappointed over delay in bolstering its military capabilities, he said: “Naturally when we look for cooperation with our friends like India and any delay that hampers progress and hampers productivity and economic progress in the country is seen in our eyes as a delay that creates a void. That void gives way to violence and deprivation.”
• Afghanistan has been trying to revamp its military to fight the resurgent Taliban as NATO forces are due to withdraw from the country by December 31 after 13 years of fighting.
• Mr. Suktanzoy also indicated that it may have a relook at the “inventory” depending on its needs. About 12,000 NATO forces will continue to assist Afghan forces after the troop drawdown.
• Mr. Sultanzoy, who handles foreign policy in the new Afghan establishment, said there might be a re-examination of the defence inventory sought from India by the Hamid Karzai government.
• “Because of change in our leadership, there will be some new evaluation and then after that we will probably have a new inventory of our needs and if India can play continued role, we will welcome it and we will make sure that we take advantage of it,” he told PTI in an interview.
• Mr. Sultanzoy was part of the Afghanistan delegation that participated at the SAARC summit. President Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit.
• Asked about India’s role in Afghanistan, the Afghan President’s adviser said New Delhi saw a strategic interest in the country and asserted that any change in ties would be for the “better.”
• Giving an indication of the new government’s policy towards India, adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Daoud Sultanzoy, said the relationship would be based on “reciprocity” and that New Delhi can play a vital role in ensuring peace in the region.
• Asked whether Afghanistan was disappointed over delay in bolstering its military capabilities, he said: “Naturally when we look for cooperation with our friends like India and any delay that hampers progress and hampers productivity and economic progress in the country is seen in our eyes as a delay that creates a void. That void gives way to violence and deprivation.”
• Afghanistan has been trying to revamp its military to fight the resurgent Taliban as NATO forces are due to withdraw from the country by December 31 after 13 years of fighting.
• Mr. Suktanzoy also indicated that it may have a relook at the “inventory” depending on its needs. About 12,000 NATO forces will continue to assist Afghan forces after the troop drawdown.
• Mr. Sultanzoy, who handles foreign policy in the new Afghan establishment, said there might be a re-examination of the defence inventory sought from India by the Hamid Karzai government.
• “Because of change in our leadership, there will be some new evaluation and then after that we will probably have a new inventory of our needs and if India can play continued role, we will welcome it and we will make sure that we take advantage of it,” he told PTI in an interview.
• Mr. Sultanzoy was part of the Afghanistan delegation that participated at the SAARC summit. President Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit.
• Asked about India’s role in Afghanistan, the Afghan President’s adviser said New Delhi saw a strategic interest in the country and asserted that any change in ties would be for the “better.”
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