RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Amid fears that the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project can be jeopardized especially after India’s open objection to the project, the Pakistan army has assured the Chinese authorities of full cooperation for secure completion of the CPEC.
The assurance was given by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif when the Chinese Vice Minister of Ministry of State Security Dong Haizhou called on him at the Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that during the meeting, the two dignitaries held discussion over matters relating to bilateral interest, regional security and security of the CPEC.
The sources said that General Raheel Sharif assured Dong Haizhou that there would be no hurdles in the completion of the mega project, adding that maximum security was put in place for completion of it.
On the occasion, Haizhou said that China attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan. He said that early completion of the project would not only benefit Pakistan and China but also the entire region.
The Indian government has recently voiced its concerns over the China-Pakistan economic corridor since it will also go through the Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, a mountainous region which is also claimed by India.
On May 31, the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told newsmen in New Delhi that the CPEC is not acceptable to India and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Beijing also raised “very strongly” this issue with the Chinese leadership.
In response, Pakistan has said that it is aware of Indian alleged plans to sabotage the CPEC and it along with China is committed to execute the project.
