Need to rediscover traditional routes of Kashmir: Mehbooba

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 22

Days after Beijing envoy Luo Zhaohui suggested alternative routes through Jammu and Kashmir to address India’s concerns regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has favoured the need “to rediscover traditional routes of Kashmir”.

“Reinforces the need to rediscover traditional trade routes of Kashmir. Will open avenues for greater economic ties and cultural exchanges,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter while reacting to the China’s proposal for alternative routes for CPEC via J&K and Nepal.

CPEC, flagship project of China’s prestigious One Belt One Road (OBOR), passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the estimated cost of the project is nearly $60 billion. The project comprises construction of about a dozen power projects, grand road, railway network connecting Kashghar city of China with Gwadar port city of Pakistan, 11 industrial zones and laying of fibre optic from Kashghar to Islamabad.

This is not for the first time when Mehbooba has come out in support of projects like the CPEC. In March this year, she had said it was time to “move beyond border skirmishes” to be partners in economic growth and also partners in projects like CPEC.

While describing J&K as the ‘Gateway to Central Asia’, Mehbooba had said: “J&K could become a corridor of economic activity in the region and the country could take huge benefit from the economic activities going on across the Line of Control. Why can’t we be partners in economic growth and share the benefits of projects like CPEC? Let us move beyond skirmishes.”

Beyond borders

This is not for the first time when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has come out in support of projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. In March this year, she had said it was time to “move beyond border skirmishes”.