Days after the recently concluded G20 Summit held in New Delhi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Prime Minister Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan shared a video from G20 showcasing a trade corridor that recognised Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India.
The location of POJK on the map showed that it was an essential part of the India-Middle East Europe Corridor indicating a diplomatic attempt to support India’s territorial integrity.
Pakistan has long-standing claims (territorial claims) over the region hence the UAE Prime Minister’s decision to share the G20 video with POJK presented as part of the Indian territory is seen as a noteworthy affront. In line with India’s position on the matter, it maintains that POJK is a fundamental part of the Union of India.
India-Middle East-Europe Corridor
The G20 Summit in New Delhi saw the launch of the India- Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) which aims to improve bilateral commerce and cooperation between the participating countries. Given that the POJK is now recognised as a part of its strategic plan, this corridor has enormous potential for forging linkages between India, the Middle East, and Europe.
Under this agreement, countries have signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to establish the India-Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity. The corridor will be productive for the economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf and Europe.
The IMEC seeks to boost trade, clean energy, and economic growth and at the same time, be an alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It is also a part of the Partnership for Rail and Shipping Corridor Global trade and cooperation through critical infrastructure development.
The Railway Lines make the trade between India and Europe 40 per cent faster. The corridor components also include an electricity cable and a clean hydrogen pipeline to foster clean energy trade. The High-Speed Data Cable will link the innovative digital ecosystem in the world and create business opportunities.
There are two segments of the Corridor: the Eastern Corridor, which will link India to the Arabian Gulf and the Northern Corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe. It will bring a plethora of benefits for India such as enhancing food security, regional supply chains, trade accessibility environmental considerations, economic cohesion, job creation and reduced greenhouse emissions.
The reliable cross-border ship-to-rail transit network connecting India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe offers India, a crucial role in global commerce, digital communication and energy networks vis a vis Chinee BRI. It will further firmly position India along the trade route spanning South East Asia to the Gulf, West Asia and Europe.
POJK will merge with India on its own
On September 12, 2023, the former Indian Army Chief and Union Minister General V.K Singh said that Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir would merge with India on its own. “PoJK will merge with India on its own, wait for some time,” the former Army Chief said when asked about the demand by the people in the POJK to merge with India.
Ever since August 28, 2023, when the Shia cleric Al-Hussaini was charged and arrested under the strict blasphemy laws of Pakistan, there have been simmering conflicts between Shia and Sunni Muslims, particularly in Skardu.
Moreover, the high handedness and cruel discriminatory policies along with the poor political and administrational mismanagement coupled with brutal army repression and suspension of the internet, the populace of Gilgit Baltistan have demanded integration with India and have roared the slogan “Chalo Chalo Kargil Chalo” literally meaning merge with Kargil which is close to the Loc and just on the other side of Skardu.
