Kerry ignores India, brags of backing Pak's PoK dam

[Neo]

Kerry ignores India, brags of backing Pak's PoK dam

ANIRBAN BHAUMIK NEW DELHI: JAN 16, 2015, DHNS:

Disregarding New Delhi's sensitivity, United States Secretary of State John Kerry has bragged about Washington's support to Islamabad in mobilising funds to construct a hydroelectric and irrigation project in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Kerry told journalists in Islamabad that Washington in October 2014 introduced the Diamer-Bhasha dam project to US investors to encourage them to invest in construction of the hydroelectric plant-cum-irrigation facility.

He made the remark while addressing a news-conference jointly with Sartaj Aziz, National Security and Foreign Affairs adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister M Nawaz Sharif last Tuesday.

New Delhi is understood to be upset over Kerry's remarks. India has since long been objecting to the controversial Diamer-Bhasha dam project since it is proposed to come up at Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The US support to Pakistan on the Diamer-Bhasha project has emerged as a new irritant in New Delhi's ties with Washington ahead of American President Barack Obama's visit to India.

The joint statement issued after Kerry and Aziz chaired the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue on Tuesday also expressed "satisfaction" of both as the US Agency for International Development and the US Chamber of Commerce on October 8 last convened the Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project Business Opportunities conference.

Kerry met Aziz in Islamabad and made the remark just two days after calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gandhinagar on the sideline of the "Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit".

The US also "reaffirmed" its support for exploring "the potential of the Diamer-Bhasha project to meet critical energy and water needs of Pakistan".

Pakistan, according to the joint statement, looked forward to the "completion of the feasibility study of Diamer-Bhasha project being conducted by the USAID (a wing of the American government assigned to administer its civilian aid overseas)".

Sources in New Delhi told Deccan Herald that the government had in October 2014, taken note of the US bid to help Pakistan seek fund for the project.

New Delhi had also used diplomatic channels to convey its objection to Washington.
"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

The PoK is under illegal occupation. Hence, any infrastructure project in the region by the Pakistani government, too, would have no legal basis at all," a source familiar with New Delhi's stand on the issue said. "Our position on the issue is well-known to the US and it will be reiterated again," he added.

The World Bank and Asian Development Bank had earlier rejected Pakistan's proposal seeking finance for the project. The international lending agencies had cited New Delhi's objections and controversial status of Gilgit-Baltistan as reasons for turning down the proposal.
DH News Service.

http://m.deccanherald.com/content/45...-backing.html/

 

[Neo]

Nice gesture from Kerry but this is merely a desperate move to save Pakistan from growing Chinese and Russian influence. There will be no US investment in this project and it will be awarded to China.

 

[Srinivas_K]

India condemns any external power in POK. POK is a disputed land and India has its cards to play.

Kerry ignores India, brags of backing Pak's PoK dam

ANIRBAN BHAUMIK NEW DELHI: JAN 16, 2015, DHNS:

Disregarding New Delhi's sensitivity, United States Secretary of State John Kerry has bragged about Washington's support to Islamabad in mobilising funds to construct a hydroelectric and irrigation project in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Kerry told journalists in Islamabad that Washington in October 2014 introduced the Diamer-Bhasha dam project to US investors to encourage them to invest in construction of the hydroelectric plant-cum-irrigation facility.

He made the remark while addressing a news-conference jointly with Sartaj Aziz, National Security and Foreign Affairs adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister M Nawaz Sharif last Tuesday.

New Delhi is understood to be upset over Kerry's remarks. India has since long been objecting to the controversial Diamer-Bhasha dam project since it is proposed to come up at Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The US support to Pakistan on the Diamer-Bhasha project has emerged as a new irritant in New Delhi's ties with Washington ahead of American President Barack Obama's visit to India.

The joint statement issued after Kerry and Aziz chaired the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue on Tuesday also expressed "satisfaction" of both as the US Agency for International Development and the US Chamber of Commerce on October 8 last convened the Diamer-Bhasha Dam Project Business Opportunities conference.

Kerry met Aziz in Islamabad and made the remark just two days after calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gandhinagar on the sideline of the "Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit".

The US also "reaffirmed" its support for exploring "the potential of the Diamer-Bhasha project to meet critical energy and water needs of Pakistan".

Pakistan, according to the joint statement, looked forward to the "completion of the feasibility study of Diamer-Bhasha project being conducted by the USAID (a wing of the American government assigned to administer its civilian aid overseas)".

Sources in New Delhi told Deccan Herald that the government had in October 2014, taken note of the US bid to help Pakistan seek fund for the project.

New Delhi had also used diplomatic channels to convey its objection to Washington.
"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

The PoK is under illegal occupation. Hence, any infrastructure project in the region by the Pakistani government, too, would have no legal basis at all," a source familiar with New Delhi's stand on the issue said. "Our position on the issue is well-known to the US and it will be reiterated again," he added.

The World Bank and Asian Development Bank had earlier rejected Pakistan's proposal seeking finance for the project. The international lending agencies had cited New Delhi's objections and controversial status of Gilgit-Baltistan as reasons for turning down the proposal.
DH News Service.

http://m.deccanherald.com/content/45...-backing.html/

 

[Neo]

India condemns any external power in POK. POK is a disputed land and India has its cards to play.

Obviously Kerry not bothered about it, not even when Obama is expected to visit India shortly.

 

[Srinivas_K]

Obviously Kerry not bothered about it, not even when Obama is expected to visit India shortly.

Obama's visit is a just a symbolic one, strategic talks between the officials are the main part in any country's foreign relations. The ground work will be done by them.

 

[Illusive]

Nice gesture from Kerry but this is merely a desperate move to save Pakistan from growing Chinese and Russian influence. There will be no US investment in this project and it will be awarded to China.

Don't pin your hopes too much on Russian relationship. China has been signing MOU's, its US that always comes to Pakistan's rescue.

As far as disputed territory is concerned, its India's fault that we haven't been too aggressive in the claim on POK and putting pressure, we have been too soft, lot of voices in India calling for peace and turning the LOC into international border has softened our stance, whereas pakistan has been aggressive in their claim and kept on pupmping terrorists to keep this issue alive.

 

[thethinker]

What is interesting to see is Pakis trying so hard now to post any news headlines that have the US insults India tone to it.



Regardless whether the events are real or not.



Pakistan must be all set and developed for these Pakis to spend so much time discussing India.



Why, some West based Pakis even have anti India signature in this forum in their id. @Neo :

The US has adroitly exploited India's prime national vulnerability of a severely bloated false ego, an inflated sense of self-importance and grossly misplaced self-assumed greatness. The US has managed to convince it of the inevitability of its "singular role" at the global level and its "undeniable destiny" as a major power broker of the 21st century!!

 

[Neo]

Don't pin your hopes too much on Russian relationship. China has been signing MOU's, its US that always comes to Pakistan's rescue.

Pak-Russia relation has already entered a new chapter, it is very much happening. No one in Pakistan considers Russia to be a strategic or defnce ally but we are pleased to have ended the Cold War between us. The door is open both ways to do business.

As far as disputed territory is concerned, its India's fault that we haven't been too aggressive in the claim on POK and putting pressure, we have been too soft, lot of voices in India calling for peace and turning the LOC into international border has softened our stance, whereas pakistan has been aggressive in their claim and kept on pupmping terrorists to keep this issue alive.

Ohh, that is not entirely true mate. India tried but failed miserably due to her own policies not to make Kashmir an international issue.

Even if you tried harder, what could you have done to stop the development projects? China is the main provider of assistance in these projects and she can not be persuaded by India, not in another decade...

 

[Illusive]

@Neo I just said don't get your hopes to high for Russia, having a normal relationship with Russia is no biggie, infact i was surprised what took you guys so long. As far as Kashmir is concerned, India has been quite successful in keeping the Kashmir issue a biateral one rather than failed attempts of making it an international issue by pak.

Your last point is just a conjecture, we have been soft in our foreign policy vis-a-vis both China and Pak. China respect power and we failed to project that, we have seen China backs off when India is aggressive.

 

[Neo]

@Neo I just said don't get your hopes to high for Russia, having a normal relationship with Russia is no biggie, infact i was surprised what took you guys so long. As far as Kashmir is concerned, India has been quite successful in keeping the Kashmir issue a biateral one rather than failed attempts of making it an international issue by pak.

Your last point is just a conjecture, we have been soft in our foreign policy vis-a-vis both China and Pak. China respect power and we failed to project that, we have seen China backs off when India is aggressive.

We have tried to normalise bilateral relations with Russia eversice the USSR disintegrated but Moscow lacked the political will to do so. Putin in his first two terms was a very pro Indian and anti Pak Russian leader. He changed his approach only after India opened up to USA.
All is well that ends well.

On China and Kashmir, well China supports Pakistan and has never backed off under Indian pressure. Specially now the future of Xinjiang is linked to the proposed Sino-Pak energy corridor, there's nothing India can do to intimidate either of us.

 

[thethinker]

We have tried to normalise bilateral relations with Russia eversice the USSR disintegrated but Moscow lacked the political will to do so. Putin in his first two terms was a very pro Indian and anti Pak Russian leader. He changed his approach only after India opened up to USA.
All is well that ends well.

On China and Kashmir, well China supports Pakistan and has never backed off under Indian pressure. Specially now the future of Xinjiang is linked to the proposed Sino-Pak energy corridor, there's nothing India can do to intimidate either of us.

Xinjiang?

They have banned burkhas now it seems. Interesting friendship dynamics!

Burqa banned in China's Xinjiang - World - DAWN.COM

China has banned the wearing of burqas in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, where a majority of Muslims reside, said a report published on The Telegraph.

Residents have been banned from wearing burqas in the city of 3.1 million people, in "an effort to curb growing extremism," state media had announced earlier this week.

Xinjiang is home to the Uighurs, a largely Muslim, Turkic-speaking group as well as a growing number of Han Chinese migrants who have poured into the region which borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan.

"Burqas are not [a] traditional dress for Uighur women, and wearing them in public places is banned in countries such as Belgium and France," reported Xinhua, China's official news agency.

Recently, there has been a rise in deadly clashes in China, which Beijing describes as Islamic terrorism. However, some experts claim that these clashes are due to ethnic tensions between Uighurs and Han Chinese migrants.

 

[Illusive]

We have tried to normalise bilateral relations with Russia eversice the USSR disintegrated but Moscow lacked the political will to do so. Putin in his first two terms was a very pro Indian and anti Pak Russian leader. He changed his approach only after India opened up to USA.
All is well that ends well.

On China and Kashmir, well China supports Pakistan and has never backed off under Indian pressure. Specially now the future of Xinjiang is linked to the proposed Sino-Pak energy corridor, there's nothing India can do to intimidate either of us.

The only thing that proposed link is providing Xinjiang with is Pakistani militants. I'd advice China to fence that border like us.

India is anything but intimidating not unless we pull our socks up and try harder for development of our economy and defence industry. But India doesn't need to be intimidating to pak, we need to just bankrupt them.

 

[hit&run]

Kerry may have been not aware of the fact that irrigation project is in POK. Karry gave literally nothing to Pakistan against India that for two days Pakistanis kept mourning on their TV channels and few thugs even Invented anti India news on Internet then ARY (ISI) channel gave air time to that same pathological lair Ahmed Qureshi to paddle same lies after he got pelt with eggs by Indians on social media.

Karry had to throw some crumbs at Pakistan so he opted this assistance to Pakistan as a closure to his visit to Pakistan. He might have seen desperate Pakistani press looking for some good news from the master thus he assured them with it that the USA will keep helping Pakistan.

Rest of the adjectives like brag, against Indian objection, POK, India unhappy) used by the author are just journalistic add on/s and exaggerations (if the author is Indian) which may not have been Karry's concern or context of his speech at that time.

 

[Compersion]

john kohn like a fixed profile to make pakis think all is well.

 

[sorcerer]

Paki dreams... USA announced just a routine statement

Our energy partnership is a preview of the larger potential for our economic relationship. For the last five years, the United States has worked with Pakistan to improve electricity delivery, which has resulted in adding 1,400 megawatts to your power grid. That's enough electricity for more than 16 million Pakistani citizens. We are supporting new transmission and renewable energy projects. The investments of American companies are crucial to this effort, and we are particularly excited about the role that U.S. technology and services will play in the inauguration of the new LNG import terminal in Karachi. The United States also voted for the Dasu Dam hydropower project at the World Bank, and we co-hosted an event with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to build private sector support for the Diamer Bhasha Dam. And we know that as we continue to work together, we're going to be able to attract an awful lot more investment for clean energy, which is a huge growth sector of all of our economies.

Remarks at the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue Ministerial

Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Islamabad, Pakistan
January 13, 2015

Remarks at the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue Ministerial

=======

When you read the official statement given by US, its really clear that its just a consensus and nothing concrete as stated in news article. Its still hypothetical at levels in USA. How can the journalist who wrote this article arrive at a consensus that its "DEAL DONE" without even reading a public statement from the minutes.

Nincompoop!!