ibn sultan
Srinagar, March 4: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday stated that the development seen in Pakistan Administrated Kashmir has been largely driven by China, with minimal contribution from the Pakistan government. His remarks came after a heated exchange between members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Conference (NC) over the state of infrastructure in border areas.
Addressing the issue, Abdullah acknowledged that while India’s frontier regions have witnessed limited development, there has been a deliberate attempt on the other side to project progress. However, he attributed this growth to Chinese involvement rather than Pakistan’s own efforts.
“We have to accept that while there is limited development in our frontier areas, on the other side, there have been deliberate attempts to showcase progress. However, this so-called development was facilitated by China, not Pakistan,” Abdullah stated.
He further emphasized that India has not sought assistance from any foreign country for infrastructure development in border regions. Criticizing the portrayal of growth in PaK, he remarked, “They made people wear coats to create the façade of development. However, in reality, the pockets of those coats are empty.”
The statement has stirred political debate, especially amidst growing concerns over China’s increasing influence in the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Abdullah’s remarks highlight the stark difference in development approaches, with India focusing on self-reliant infrastructure growth while Pakistan continues to depend on external players for its projects.(Agencies )
