India should adopt an open attitude toward the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Global Times

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with her
Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in New Delhi

GlobalTimes (article reproduced as it is), 

Beijing, 16 August 2016

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj voiced India's concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK), during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's India trip, Indian media reported.

It is regrettable to see CPEC become another unharmonious factor in Sino-Indian ties, but China is unlikely to give up on the idea of CPEC because of India's protest. In fact, the economic corridor, linking Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan, does not target any third party, India included. Given that China has developed close economic ties with both India and Pakistan in recent years, Beijing is unlikely to be interested in taking a side between the two countries.

The dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan makes the two countries habitually vigilant against any possibility of large-scale foreign investment flowing into the region, but it is the Kashmir conflict itself, rather than any alleged political intent behind the foreign investment, that creates tension in the region. Rather than prevent foreign investors from entering the region as a solution to concerns over CPEC, India should focus on its negations with Pakistan to settle the Kashmir dispute.

It is precisely because of the region's worsening investment environment that POK's economy is still heavily reliant on agriculture. Also, the northern part of India bordering Pakistan and India-controlled Kashmir both lack basic infrastructure. 

The CPEC is not a zero-sum game where Pakistan gains and India loses. If economic cooperation between China and Pakistan can improve infrastructure in the region, including in the Kashmir area, India will have an opportunity to expand trade routes to Central Asia.

New Delhi may need to adopt an open attitude toward CPEC so the project can speed up development in the region and benefit the local population. Hopefully India can also improve infrastructure in the regions bordering Pakistan to promote regional economic integration. Any way in which India can put aside politics and join in the task of economic development would be welcome.

Economic cooperation between India, Pakistan and China would create an open atmosphere for launching talks to solve the Kashmir dispute. In this regard, New Delhi may need to take the long view for its national interests.

Original Source of above article reproduced as it is: Global Times, China

NationalDefence Editor's note: China has no right to build any project in Indian territory currently illegally in possession of Pakistan vis PoK without India's consent. India has raised its objection to CPEC but China instead of stopping the project ups the ante by deploying its troops overseas in PoK. Moreover, Kashmir is a bilateral issue between the two countries and China has no right to advocate a solution whatsoever through economic upliftment to cover up its illegal furtherance of CPEC.  Instead, China may advise its all weather friend Pakistan to take care of human rights and economic parity in Balochistan.