China, Pak talk about Gilgit-baltistan dam

BEIJING: China has denied it demanded “full ownership” and the right to operate Diamer-bhasha dam in the disputed GilgitBaltistan region, the country’s top planning body said, adding Beijing and Islamabad continue to be in contact over the project.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) dismissed reports that China had not only claimed ownership of the dam but also wanted collateral security for the project in the form of another operational dam.

India has raised objections to the construction of the dam as its site is in Gilgit-baltistan, which is claimed by Delhi as part of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir.

In November, Pakistan withdrew its bid to include the dam in China-pakistan Economic Corri- dor (CPEC), with an official saying Chinese conditions for financing the dam were unacceptable.

NDRC deputy director Wang Xiaotao told Pakistani counterparts that the question of China demanding ownership of the dam does not arise. “Currently, the two sides are maintaining contact on the cooperation project of the Diamer-bhasha Dam. However, the project has not yet been included in the list of energy projects under the CPEC,” Wang said during a meeting of the CPEC joint committee last month.

“Therefore, there is no ‘Chinese request for full ownership of the Diamer-bhasha project, its right to operate and make another in Pakistan hydropower station as collateral’...there are inaccurate aspects in reports of media on the project of DiamerBhasha, or it just represents the position of individual officials.”