Indian policymakers have long been wary of a string of strategically located ports being built by Chinese companies in its neighbourhood. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan has rejected Indian concerns over its decision to hand over the operations of the strategically important Gwadar Port to China.
“We think that this is not something that any other country should have any reason to be concerned about,” said a foreign ministry spokesperson at a weekly news briefing on Thursday.
Moazzam Ali Khan was reacting to a recent statement by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony, who said that China’s role in operating the Gwadar Port was a matter of concern for India.
But the foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed Indian concerns as “unwarranted”.
“We are still working out the modalities of this arrangement. We have seen some reports in the media, which are rather overenthusiastic about this arrangement,” Khan maintained.
Management of the Gwadar Port, around 600km from Karachi and close to Pakistan’s border with Iran, is being handed over to the state-run Chinese Overseas Port Holdings after previously being managed by Singapore’s PSA International.
When completed, the port, which is close to the Strait of Hormuz, could open up an energy and trade corridor from the Gulf, across Pakistan to western China.
But according to reports, India fears that the port could be used by the Chinese Navy to jostle for geo-strategic power in the region.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said China was an important country, and “we think that China can play a very important role with regards to peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
Talks with Taliban
When asked, Khan dispelled impressions that the government was part of the recent initiative by the head of his own faction of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who had gone to Doha to hold talks with the Afghan Taliban representatives.
However, the spokesman said Pakistan supports the opening of a Taliban office in the Qatari capital.
“We feel that it is a step in the right direction helping achieve the objective of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.”
But he made it clear that Pakistan was not directly part of the process. “This is basically an Afghan-led process and we want to leave it like that,” he said.
The spokesman also revealed that Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas would be visiting Islamabad from February16-18.
This would be his first visit to Pakistan after Palestine’s recognition as a Non-member Observer State by the United Nations.
Pakistan co-sponsored the UNGA Resolution that granted this status to Palestine on November 29, 2012.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (32)
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@In the name of love (what more): or more so its disappointment on Indian part where dream of taking lead from China seems a little more blurred than it already was. Obviously for India, observing Chinese trade route convenience comforted by Indian archenemy Pakistan should result in many sleepless nights.
Or do you want to continue crying to make us Pakistanis smile more?
@Goshawk: "Like 13 Indian training camps in Afghanistan (so called consulates) bordering Pakistan."
India has 5 consulates in Afghanistan - in the exact same cities that Pakistan has its 5 consulates. http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/afghanistan
Please provide the address of the remaining 8 Indian consulates you have referred to.
Your establishment continues to lie to you and you continue to believe it without any fact checking.
I trust China over India anyday.
What's going wrong with India and why India is trying unsuccessfully to become the "Thanedar" of South East Asia?Pakistan is and has never been bound to consult with India for its projects and developments and if you have concerns and reservation with China then talk to China and stop China from taking the Gwadar Port's charge but I am sure you are unable to do so because China is far far far much the best and developed country in technology and military field than India.Therefore Indians you must mind your own business and never interfere in any Pakistan's matters because who will and who will not run Gwadar Port this is not your matter of concern?China is always our time tested and all season friend and on Chinese border less troops and no any mishap till now on the Pak-China border in any means and manifestations are the live examples of it and China has proven it thru its peaceful attitude.......
Pervez Musharaf needs to comment here.
We welcome Pakistan's decision. Pakistan should also give Karachi to China to accelerate the colonisation process. We can then invite Chinese Secretary of State to resolve all the outstanding border issues all at once instead of having to deal with 2 states having different mindsets. Besides Chinese have the added advantage of being less emotional and more rational than Pakistanis.
Pakistan has been enriched in everything but was deprived of true and honest leadership. The location of Gwadar port was blessed to Pakistan and leadership to China. It is honest and intelligent leadership which play a positive role in the prosperity of a country. May Allah bless us with honest leaders.
You are all missing the fine print : commercial port, no one cares although this Gwadar port will only remain as a private port for a long time.
The concern is on the navel rights to this port. My gut feeling- PAK will not benefit in the commercial operation of this port and this port will be a bone of contention between the domestic and foreign powers creating a nightmare for PAK.
PAK should have auctioned of this port to the highest bidder for operation.
@Diggvijay Singh: You are absolutely right brother. But it is hard to imagine friendly relation between India and Pakistan in the presence of Kashmir conflict. I can rightly mention it as a real bone of contention, once Kashmir issue is resolved everything between India and Pakistan would find its way towards peace and real friendship. Being a Pakistani I love Indian more than any other nation as I share language, culture, tendencies and many other things with them.
Very few countries have so much as Pakistan has. Natural warm water ports, fertile land that can grow rice, sugarcane and wheat, deserts with mineral resources that can grow dates, beautiful snow clad mountains and abundant fresh water supplies, it is all there.
India has concerns all over PAKISTAN,what was it with them,
@Kamran Choudhry: You are absolutely right.In diplomacy there are no permanent friends are enemies.right now you are useful to china and only the future can determine how long this can last.Yes there are no free lunches.....at all.Enjoy as long as it can last.
We have the right to dismiss India's concern but revisit how undivided India was colonized by the British, Portugal and French in the name of trade. In not too distant future we will wake up one morning to discover that we have mortgaged our country and we are owners of our dear Pakistan in paper only. Are we happy of foreign elements like the Taliban and Al-Qaida destroying us but they came as liberators and friends? Why do we think that we are not capable of developing our infrastructure? My friends, there is no free lunch and China is not a charitable institution.
Pakistanis are in their chest thumping mode,but little do they realise that they're being used as a pawn by China in the powerplay between India and China....
While India is stirring up the South China Sea,China is responding in kind in the Indian Ocean and are using Pakistan,Srilanka as pawns,with Maldives currently in a tug of war...
its nice to ally with a strong country,but Pakistan should remember that they consider China as ally,while China considers Pakistan as pawns...
The bad thing being a pawn is that you are always expendable...Remember,how China never tried to help China in 1971 East Pakistan...Atleast,US sent few warships to help Pakistan....
When Jinnah (Int'l airport) can be mortgaged what is wrong will selling Gwadar to China? In any case the trade imbalance with China has to be addressed.
@Shah: As in case of Shamsi Airbase, Pakistan is silent about whether China is building armed base at Gwadar? This news is filtering through media? OK ... for your satisfaction it is mouse’s concern of having snakes around it ...... :-)
@Goshawk: To my knowledge Pakistan and India, each have four consulates in Afghanistan
To make it even with our Most Favuored Nation on east we must now give showbusiness contracts, Radio broadcasting, all sorts of Printing, Media, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, and above all Foreign Relations sub-contracts to India for their excellent performance in those fields. I mean why go far when HELP is next door?
. China will be bringing Myanmar’s Port of Kyaukpyu on stream in 2013-14. It is a purpose-built Port for handling ULCC Tankers in respect of Oil to China by Pipe Line transporting China’s Imports of Crude Oil from the Middle East, Africa and South America and also a Pipe Line to carry Natural Gas from the Myanmar – mainly off shore – Gas Fields. This Port is near the Port of Sitwe (Old name Akyab). . Here is the Article : China and Burma Leaders Meet, Oil and Gas Projects Move Forward . URL : http://www.earthrights.org/blog/china-and-burma-leaders-meet-oil-and-gas-projects-move-forward . 1. As such Gwadar will not be used by the Chinese to Transport Oil or Gas to China by Pipe Lines etc. The next idea is that Oil-Natural Gas will be transported through Pakistan for Petroleum Refineries in Kashgar-Kashi. This is ridiculous as Xinjiang Province is reputed to have over Fifty Per Cent of China’s Oil and Gas Reserves. Thus, in my opinion, no Oil or Gas will be transported via Gwadar to China. . 2. Gwadar is being considered to be a Gateway to the Central Asian Republics. Fellow Forum Members are referred to the CIA World Factbook and find out about the Trade as well as Trading Partners of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and will find that the majority of the Trade is with China and Continental Europe. Both Destinations are very well served by the Trans-Siberian Railway and I believe the Chinese are building another Railway Lines to the Central Asian Republics. . So where does that leave Gwadar? Gwadar’s hinterland is the Province of Balochistan and this port does not have to worry about competing with Chah Bahar which can cater to the limited CAR Trade. I am sure that a reasonable percentage of CAR Trade will use both Chah Bahar and Gwadar. . I feel that the Indian Leadership is only “needling” the Pakistanis as India does not have anything to fear from the Chinese due to fact that the India-China Trade volume will ensure that India and China will keep Peace amongst themselves. . Cheers
Who is India to make concern ,
Why Pakistan Govt reply softly
They should reply strongly, China is our great friend, what ever we do, we will do
@non political: Kinldy diffuse the bombs that are exploding in every city of PAK everyday..atleast indians can releave themselves peacefuly but in PAK you never know there might be a bomb beneath you...
Gwadar Port was developed by China with an understanding that its management shall be handed over to them and therefore this agreement. It is not clear the period for which it has been handed over.
Congrats on having sold Gwaradar to China +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pls also do the same to Pakistan Railways and AirLine...so that the citizens also gain.:)
@SKChadha: When foreign forces build armed bases in neighbourhood, it is a matter of concern for India . Like 13 Indian training camps in Afghanistan (so called consulates) bordering Pakistan.
leaving india aside, why are most of the things in pakistan being run by mercenaries from abroad?? pakistan must learn to run its own internal machinery... equations between countries around the world can change and pakistan cannot expect china to act as it's guardian in case trouble mounts...its high time they take matters in their own hands...these are not the traits of becoming an influential power in the region that pakistan so desperately aspires..
kindly provide toilet facility to 68 percent india first
@SKChadha:
STOP ACTING LIKE A SUPER POWR ..your not even close...
India's dissatisfaction is because of losing out on a rich opportunity. India wants Pakistan's help in getting access to the natural resources of Central Asia. If the operations of the Gwadar port had been handed over to India instead of China, who are just deceiving allies, Indo-Pak trade relations would have been at an altogether different level by this day. India and Pakistan must come closer strategically and realize their mutual benefit comes through cooperation, instead of depending on external world powers like America and China.
India surely you Jest! Is this just another attempt to pretend to be "The pretenders to the Super Power Category" because you will never become one due to the hypocrisy in your system! So learn to live with it!
Pakistan should shake off the slave mentality. They cannot manage their own territory and resources and instead hands it over to another nation. Why should it call itself a sovereign nation then? Better ask China to rule Pakistan.
Pakistan has rejected India's concern but have not confirmed that foreign forces (US or China) will be allowed to have base on its soil? When foreign forces build armed bases in neighbourhood, it is a matter of concern for India. Whether it is Shamsi Airbase or Gwadar Port. That's it. India should watch the situation with due concern.
I think Indian concern is not with the use of port as U.S had with Iranian gas line thru Pakistan but instead they wanted to apply for the port management contract which privately went to China without an add in the paper about the job.
Who Pakistan gives away its sovereignty to should be none of India's concern.