FO denies China stopped CPEC projects funding

ISLAMABAD: Confusion persists in Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi-led government where Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says that China has halted the release of funds for three China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, while the Ministry for Foreign Affairs denies such a move by Beijing, saying China has not notified the government on any such decision.

“We have not received any information from the Chinese side regarding halting of funding for any project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “These projects are steered by Pakistan-China JCC. The funding for CPEC projects is approved and disbursed as per the agreed principles between the governments, ministries and companies of the two countries,” a spokesman at the Foreign Office told the weekly media briefing.

He pointed to the 7th JCC meeting held in Islamabad on Nov 21, which reviewed the work of Joint Working Groups, progress of the projects and approved new ones. However, earlier Ahsan Iqbal was quoted as telling the parliamentary committee meeting on CPEC that three projects had been halted as China was not releasing funds as had been agreed earlier between the two sides, until there had been a complete revision of its financial mechanism. “CPEC is a mega project entailing several rail, road, infrastructure and energy projects. The magnitude of the projects is unprecedented.

“Several ministries and provincial departments are stakeholders from our side, while from the Chinese side several state-owned enterprise (SOEs), companies and ministries are involved in various projects,” added the FO spokesman.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi has received instructions from Islamabad to issue visas to the wife and mother of undercover RAW agent, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who will meet with the death-row prisoner on Dec 25. The Indian High Commission, when approached, said they had still not finalised which diplomat would accompany the Indian ladies at a time when the new High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria has taken charge. Though there are no details of the length of their stay in Pakistan, the Indian government has been assured that full security would be provided to the Indian visitors as the “details and modalities of the meeting are being worked out”. To a query, the spokesman said Pakistan was “fully confident” that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will certainly reject Indian claims for “acquittal or release”, as counsel for Pakistan,Barrister Khawar Qureshi Queen’s Counsel’s (QC), Counter Memorial is a comprehensive and robust document that covers all legal aspects of the case.

The spokesman also advised the Modi government while pointing to the Gujarat elections that polls should be won on own strength and performances rather than fabricating conspiracies, and such unfounded allegations are an attempt to divert the attention of the world from their internal issues, such as growing intolerance and religious extremism.

In the background is the ludicrous allegation of Modi that Pakistan was trying to influence polls in Gujarat. “These are such baseless and irresponsible allegations. Pakistan, as a responsible member of the international community, observes a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. However, India not only interferes in our internal affairs by promoting terrorism in our country,” he added.

The spokesman was also critical of India’s refusal to host the Asia Cup in September over Pakistan’s participation. “We believe that sports provide a platform for healthy activities and promoting friendship among the nations. Unfortunately, India does not believe in this.

Earlier, visas of Pakistani Junior squash players were refused by India. Cricket between the two nations remains in doldrums. If this trend continues, it will further hamper the people-to-people contact which will benefit no one,” said the spokesman.

While there has been uproar in Pakistan over the recent US move to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel, Pakistan is hesitant to summon the US ambassador, as was expected. The spokesman says that at the moment both sides are trying to find common ground between Pakistan and the US for a cooperative way forward, which is beneficial for both the countries.

“We have conveyed our reaction to the US officials in Islamabad, including the Resolutions of the National Assembly and the Senate on the issue of Jerusalem. We have been assured that our sentiments and concerns would be conveyed to Washington,” said the spokesman.

Pakistan welcomes US decision to release $700 million of reimbursement of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and insists that this should not be seen as “assistance”. When asked to expand of “common ground” with the US, he responded that finding common ground in inter-state relations is a continuous and complex process.

“Pakistan and the US are constantly engaged in finding common ground, and the process is ongoing. This is what was also conveyed by the US secretary of defence during his recent visit to Pakistan,” he said.

As the validity of current PoR (Proof of Residence) cards for millions of Afghan refugees is due to expire on Dec 31, 2017, the government is contemplating options to extend the validity of the PoR cards.

“So far no decision has been made. When it is decided, it shall be shared with the media,” said the spokesman. While bilateral relations with Bangladesh remain tense, Pakistan says that it is keen on having a “forward looking” relationship with Dhaka.

“Pakistan wants to develop its relationship with Bangladesh on the basis of the Tripartite Agreement of 1974. We believe that this Agreement needs to be honoured and upheld in letter and spirit, and the bilateral relationship between both countries should move forward in the same vein,” said the spokesman.