(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?
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.