China and Pakistan are planning to use road diplomacy to strengthen their ever growing ties.
China and Pakistan are planning to use road diplomacy to strengthen their ever growing ties.
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Karakoram highway in China |
According to sources in the defence ministry, the two countries are widening the strategic Karakoram highway that connects Pakistan with northern China.
"Engineers from both countries are working together to widen the stretch between Gwadar port to Xinjiang province in China," said a senior defence ministry official, requesting anonymity.
More than 1,000 Chinese engineers are working on their part of the stretch and about an equal number of their Pakistani counterparts are engaged in the project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and mainland Pakistan.
Xinjiang is connected to Abottabad in Pakistan by the highway, a distance of 1,300 km and there is a proposal to extend the road up to Gwadar port. "Gwadar is one of the most important naval bases in Pakistan. Even the Chinese Army operates from there and Beijing has deployed several naval assets at the port," said the officer.
Presently, the width of the road isu00a0 10 meters and is not fit for heavy vehicular-movement. The expansion would enable Islamabad and Beijing to use the strategic road for the transport of military equipment on giant military vehicles.
Though India is keeping a mum over the development, sources said that the expansion cannot be ignored. "The stretch is located just above Siachen glacier and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir," said a senior defence personnel, on the condition of anonymity.
Besides the expressway, the two countries are also working on other important projects, including Hydel-power stations, coal mines in Thar desert and modernisation of several defence bases.
