Sunday, September 13, 2009

DTN News: India Protests Pakistani Dam in Disputed Region

DTN News: India Protests Pakistani Dam in Disputed Region *Source: DTN News/ Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BANGKOK, Thailand - September 13, 2009: The Indian government has lodged a protest against Pakistan over its plans to build a dam in the disputed region of Kashmir, with the help of China. India's foreign ministry said Friday the dam is being built in part of the Himalayan valley that is "illegally" occupied by Pakistan. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but claimed by both. Last month, Pakistan and China signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the Bunji hydroelectric project, which is aimed at generating electricity for Pakistan. The country is dealing with power shortages. The project has caused concern in India over Pakistan's growing ties with China.Friday, Pakistan summoned an official with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to reject the India's protest of the dam. The Deputy High Commissioner of India in Islamabad was called to the Foreign Office on Friday and Indian protest on Gilgit-Baltistan self-rule order was rejected. The Foreign Office Director General (South Asia) emphasised that Pakistan rejects the Indian protest as the Government of India has no locus standi in the matter. A Press release issued by the Foreign Office stated that the Government of Pakistan also rejects the Indian claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. “Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute is based on relevant UN resolutions.” Two protest notes were handed over to the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi on Friday by the Ministry of External Affairs of India, on the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009); and construction of Bunji Dam in Astore District. Monitoring Desk adds: The Indian Government on Friday summoned the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Riffat Masood and registered its protest against the Government of Pakistan’s so-called Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order -2009 and its move to construct the Bunji Hydroelectric Project, reported Indian media. Insofar as the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order-2009 was concerned, the Indian government charged Pakistan with denying basic democratic rights to the people in those parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir under its illegal occupation for the past six decades. New Delhi told the Pakistani envoy that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.A government spokesman described the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order-2009 was yet another cosmetic exercise intended to camouflage Pakistan’s illegal occupation of the region. The Indian Government also lodged a protest on Friday over the proposed construction of the Bunji Hydroelectric Project. The 7000-megawatt dam is being constructed at Bunji in the Astore District of the Gilgit-Baltistan area with the help of China.

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