India called in Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner Rifet Masood on Monday and submitted a note-verbal, protesting against the proposal to build a China-funded massive 7000-mw hydro electric project in the northern areas, which India claims was illegally occupied by Pakistan.
This is not the first time India has protested over projects in PoK. Similar protests were lodged about the Nelum-Jhelum hydel station and the Bhasha dam in the area of Kashmir India calls its own. The difference here is that China is involved.
It is well known that Chinese firms move in fast when they are given a contract and start work immediately. This is why New Delhi has decided to protest before China begins work on the hydel station. Protests notwithstanding, the China-backed project is likely to take off as scheduled.
Pakistan has protested several times over India’s Baglihar dam in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it will stop the flow of water to Pakistan. Asked whether India has also protested before Beijing, foreign office spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the project was in PoK and so the protest note was delivered to Islamabad. India’s high commission in Pakistan has given a similar note to the foreign ministry there.
