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| Pakistan facilitates the task | | Chinese in action across J&K frontier | | From B L KAK
NEW DELHI, July 10: Pakistan's 'super commando', Gen. Parvez Musharraf, has a strategy aimed at providing more ground for the unpredictable Chinese in an area just opposite Indian Kashmir's frontier.
The area is located near the most strategic Karakoram highway. The 537-mile Karakoram highway strteches from the Indus valley of Pakistan to Sinkiang (now known as Xinjiang) province in China. At this rooftop of the world, where as many as 33 peaks rise 24,000 feet high, the borders of four countries lie in close proximity--Pakiastan, China, India and Afghanistan.
China and Pakistan have officially maintained that he Karakoram highway is a trade route. They do not proclaim the military significance of the road. But New Delhi has already discounted its trade aspects and Indian defence experts have reasons to be worried about its strategic implications for India's security.
Less than two weeks ago, a significant development took place across the J&K frontier: China and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding to initiate the renovation project of the Karakoram highway. The China Road and Bridge Corporation, a state-owned construction firm, signed the MoU with the Pakistani highway administration for the purpose.
According to the MoU, the China Road and Bridge Corp. will be in charge of the design and reconstruction of the highway as the general contractor. At the first stage, the 335-kilometer road between the Raikot bridge to the Khunjerab mountain pass will be rebuilt and upgraded.
The two sides agreed to complete the drawing of the blue print, listing the work items and signing commercial contracts by the end of October, and try to start working by the end of the year. The Karakoram highway is the only overland connection between China and Pakistan at present.
The highway, whose location is 600 to 4,700 meters above sea level, was built in 1978 for special geopolitical reasons. It is largely broken due to lack of maintenance and the earthquake in late 2005. During Pakistan President, Gen. Musharraf's visit to China in February, the two sides reached an agreement in principle to upgrade the Karakoram highway.
Latest reports from Pakistan let it be known that width of the Karakoram highway will be expanded from 10 meters to 30 meters, and its transport capacity will be enhanced three times. Heavy-laden vehicles will be able to run on the road after the upgradation.
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