Q. 367 Leasing of area of Gilgit Baltistan to China

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Government is aware of a move by the Pakistan to lease a substantial area of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK) to China for fifty years;

(b) whether Government is also aware of massive protests in the Northern Territories of Undivided Jammu and Kashmir State against various projects being constructed by China in this region;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether Government has taken up this issue with Pakistan during the ongoing Foreign Secretary level talks?

ANSWER:

(a) Government has not seen any official statement or report by the Government of Pakistan on leasing a substantial area of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) to China. However, under the so called China-Pakistan “Boundary Agreement” of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 Sq. Kms. of Indian territory in POK to China. Government remains firm in its resolve to take all necessary steps to effectively safeguard India’s security and territorial integrity.
(b) & (c) According to media reports, in July 2011, hundreds of labourers and contractors protested against non-payment of wages, in front of the office of a Chinese construction company which was upgrading the Karakoram Highway in POK.

(d) The issue of Jammu & Kashmir is discussed at the Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan.

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