Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Pakistan Port facilities offered to China.

This is an intriguing move in the Grand Game.

This is supposedly for the benefit of the Xinjiang Uyger autonomous region of China. This could be a means by which the United States and Pakistan aid the Uighur separatists of Xinjiang in their efforts to break away from China. China has protested the establishment of a Uighur Government-in-Exile in Washington.
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If this is for the benefit of the whole of China this would put the Chinese, albeit non-military vessels, next to Iran’s shipping lane the Strait of Hormuz. If the Chinese have access to these ports in time their military vessels will probably visit. The Chinese have a considerable investment in Iran’s oil and gas. Bush plans on attacking Iran by choking the Strait of Hormuz.

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While this may change, an amphibious attack was originally targeted against Iran from the Arabian Sea, with a provocative US blockade in the Gulf of Oman to choke Iran’s sealanes of communications. Pakistan would be the base for mounting massive air reconnaissance and surveillance of Iran, while Iranian dissidents, backed by the US army, would launch land assaults from the Iraq-Iran border. Diplomatic sources say, the main body of the plan would remain the same, although component tactics could change.

When the US says it may keep 145,000 troops in Iraq up to five years they are contemplating the invasion of Iran then Syria.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/07/03/d40703100483.htm

I am not sure if Pakistan is helping the United States or China with this move.

-Am

Xingjian offered use of Gwadar, Karachi ports

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally offered to allow the Chinese province of Xingjian use of Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports to export goods.

Both sides also decided to form a two-tier committee to enhance trade between Pakistan (particularly the Northern Areas) and Xingjian. This was stated by Minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas Faisal Saleh Hayat at his joint press briefing with visiting Governor of Xingjian Islami Tiliwaldi on Wednesday.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chunxiang and a 19-member delegation accompanying the governor were also present on the occasion. Mr Hayat said that Pakistan offered the Xingjian governor use of the port facilities at Gawadar and Karachi because “the land route through Karakorum and Sust are economical for the exports of their products.”He said the committee would identify areas in which trade and commerce relations could be enhanced to benefit both sides.

One committee would be headed by the chief secretary of the Northern Areas and the other would be headed by the deputy chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau. Governor Tiliwaldi lauded Pakistan’s cooperation with China in general and with Xingjian in particular in the area of anti-terrorism.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-10-2004_pg7_38



Port facilities to China offered


By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Pakistan on Wednesday offered China its seaports for trade with Middle East countries.

This was announced at a press conference addressed jointly by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Faisal Saleh Hayat and Ismail Tiliwaldi, the visiting governor of the Xinjiang Uyger autonomous region of China, at the ministry of Kashmir Affairs here.

Mr Hayat said Pakistan could earn millions by becoming a transit country for China's trade. He said that businessmen of both countries could benefit from the Karachi port, the under-construction port at Gwadar and the Karakoram Highway.

Mr Hayat said the two countries had agreed to boost tourism and trade and utilize their natural resources in their respective northern areas. "Pakistan can benefit from the tourism industry of Xinjiang as 10 million foreign tourists visit this Chinese region every year," the minister said.

Mr Tiliwaldi said Pakistan and China shared common views on all international issues, specially on countering terrorism. He said the killing of a most wanted Chinese terrorist, Maqsoom, in Wana by Pakistani security agencies last year was highly appreciated by the government of China and its people.

Mr Tiliwaldi said his meeting with Pakistani minister and officials had assured him that the time-tested relations between the two countries would continue to grow further.

He said Pakistan was fully united under the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and making rapid progress. "We also take pride in your (Pakistan's) development," he added.

Accompanied by a strong business delegation on a three-day visit here, the Chinese governor met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and also held talks with the ministers of commerce, interior and Kashmir Affairs.

Mr Hayat said his meeting with the Chinese governor covered subjects ranging from politics to economics to cultural cooperation and there was a broad consensus on all vital issues.

The two sides agreed to set up a two-tier committee to increase economic and trade interaction between the Northern Areas and Xinjiang which, with an area of 1.66 million square kilometres, constitutes one-sixth of the total Chinese territory.

Xinjiang is rich in natural resources and offers great opportunities to Pakistani entrepreneurs to exploit trade potential of this land-locked region. Last year its crude oil production reached 21 million tonnes, making it the third largest oil producing Chinese province.

Having a strong cotton production-base, the province accounts for about 40 per cent of the total Chinese cotton output. Governor Tiliwaldi said the two-tier committee could play an important role in promoting trade and commercial cooperation between his province and the Northern Areas.

He identified tourism as one of the many areas that offered mutual benefit. Mr Hayat said a strong Pakistani business delegation will soon visit Xinjiang to explore opportunities of business and joint0 ventures with their Chinese counterpart.

http://www.dawn.com/2004/10/07/top4.htm