Kathmandu: Sweden has very freshly joined the list of European countries that have expressed “serious” concern about the lockdown and communications blackout in Kashmir, with foreign minister Ms. Ann Linde saying “India should lift the remaining restrictions in the region”, the Indian newspaper Hindustan Times reported.

According to a report, Ms. Linde told the Swedish Parliament this Wednesday that the country doesn’t want any escalation of the situation in Kashmir, and that any long-term political solution “must involve Kashmiri inhabitants”.

Linde will be part of the delegation accompanying King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden on a five day state visit to India beginning first week of December/19.

Earlier this month, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and later Finland foreign minister Pekka Haavisto too had sternly warned India on Kashmiri lockdown.

To recall, the determined lady of Europe Merkel had said, “The situation for the people there (Kashmir) is currently not sustainable and must improve”.

Merkel’s statement must have jolted the Indian establishment in that the message by Ms. Angela very much favored the Pakistan’s genuine plea made to the world leaders on Kashmir situation.

In fact this is what has been the principled stance of Pakistan since August 5/19-the black day for the imprisoned Kashmiris and its leaders.

Physical chemistry Professor Merkel reiterated her strong stance on Kashmir even when she was the guest of the Indian establishment.

This speaks of her courage.

Similarly, the Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto had said “We are feeling that the situation is not sustainable now and I can see the concerns have been raised by many other international players as well. We are concerned about news that some of the politicians are still in detention or under house arrest. The basic freedoms and freedom of expression of opinion is limited.”

Almost a month have passed of the Finnish statement made on Kashmir, the situation on the ground in the India occupied valley remains even worse as the lockdown continues.

The top leaders of Kashmir are still under house arrest.

Remarkably, the Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto had raised concerns about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and had said India should allow United Nations observers and diplomatic missions to visit the region to get first-hand experience, Indian media had reported.

Haavisto then said that the unofficial delegation of members of the European Union which visited Jammu and Kashmir last month was not a politically-balanced team.

“I don’t want to criticize if anyone is travelling and reporting about the situation in Kashmir, but it is good if people who have expertise about the situation in this region or on human rights, freedom of the media issues etc are involved,” he had told the Indian media while being in India on a formal visit.

The fresh Swedish remarks on Kashmir is important because the Swedish King is travelling to India very shortly for a week or so and it is widely believed that the Swedish delegation will raise the Kashmir issue during the bilateral level talks with India.

Writes the Swedish Professor Ashok Swain in the Gulf News dated November 28/19 that, “It is difficult to believe that Sweden is unaware of the fact that under PM Modi India since 2014 is witnessing growing intolerance and increased incidences of violence against the Indian minorities”.

The Swedish Professor of Indian origin Mr. Swain further writes that “for its credibility, Sweden should walk the talk. It is thus important for the King and the accompanying delegation in this State visit to bring up issues like tolerance, human rights and minority issues in their private and public interactions with the Indian political establishment”.

However, Professor Swain fears that the Swedish delegation may waste precious time only in talking (business) on the likely SAAB-gripen fighter aircraft deal with India and in the process may deviate from raising its voice against suppression of democratic values in India and human rights in Kashmir.

If that happens then that would be a disaster and the minority Muslims in India (Kashmir implied) will conclude that for Sweden commercial business is supreme as against preservation of human values.

It would also mean that Sweden endorses “Indian intolerance” against the minority Muslims and Dalits.

However, listening to the Swedish minister Linda’s talk on Kashmir in the Swedish parliament, observers in South Asia, with Nepal included definitely, believe that Sweden will reiterate the same to what had been stated in the Swedish parliament a few days ago.

Foreign Minister Linda had stated in the parliament that her country doesn’t want any escalation of the situation in Kashmir, and that any long-term political solution “must involve Kashmiri inhabitants”.

The message to India is clear which is most likely to be forcefully repeated during the impending Swedish delegation New Delhi state visit.

In the meantime, the United States recently warned Pakistan of the long-term risks to its economy if it embraces China’s massive infrastructure project and suggested that it should instead look to the U.S. business model.

To recall, Pakistan and China are engaged in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project, CPEC, which constitutes to be a part of the Belt and Road Initiative-a signature plan of President Xi Jinping.

Alice Wells, the acting assistant secretary of state for South Asia, told a conference on November 21 that the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will only profit Beijing.
This is what the US thinks of the BRI and the CPEC. However, China and Pakistan do not subscribe to the theory advanced by the US and some European Nations.

Needless to say, in Nepal also a small section subscribe to this debt trap notion as is being forcefully claimed by the US and India sponsored intellectuals.
The United States and many EU countries have criticized China’s project and it’s lending for regional infrastructure efforts, warning that it has saddled some developing countries with debts that they cannot afford to repay time permitting.

Now the likely target would surely be Sri Lanka as the return of Rajpaksha brothers in Sri Lankan politics will allow China to inch closer to Colombo.

(Though President Gotabaya has talked on Colombo-Delhi ties but yet his likely visit to China and later to Pakistan will set the impending political attitude of South Asia).

The abject failure of India’s neighborhood policy will certainly benefit China.

The CPEC project in Pakistan consists of rail, road, and energy infrastructure and is part of the wider $1 trillion Chinese project known as the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Interestingly leaving all and sundry in a big surprise, the sitting US Ambassador to Pakistan November 25, 2019, categorically stated that the remarks on CPEC made by the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, November 21/19 were meant to generate debate however it was Pakistan’s sovereign right to decide its future.

“We do not expect everyone to agree with us or agree with every aspect of her speech,” Ambassador of the United States of America Paul W Jones said while talking to media after visiting Wazir Khan Mosque to review the ongoing restoration work of some historic houses under the ‘US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation’ (AFCP), reports the APP.

This means that the US will not mind if Pakistan engages itself with the Chinese projects but would only advise Pakistan to take steps ahead with utmost care.

Not bad indeed as is evident from the US envoy talks made in Lahore.

The Ambassador when asked about the statement made by US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Alice Wells gave in Washington D.C about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said it was very ‘thoughtful speech’, and added that the idea of her speech was to generate debate.

The news that remained largely ignored was that Alice Well also stated that the United States has plans to send 15 trade delegations to Pakistan in the year 2020.

“The U.S. Commerce Department has already stepped up its activity in Pakistan with 15 trade delegations planned for the next year. And once the new expanded Development Finance Corporation or DFC is stood up, Pakistan is going to be a country of great interest,” stated a paper Wells read at a Washington think-tank, Wilson Centre, last week.

During the same think tank gathering Alice Well had made sharp comments on CPEC.

This means that the US doesn’t have any nefarious plans to harass its longtime ally now forgotten albeit.

The US is aware of the fact that Pakistan could play an important role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan to which Pakistan is fully committed.

Notably the Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi asserted as back as on November 24/19 that the recently aired US views on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will have “no impact” on the ambitious project, after a senior Trump administration official (Alice Wells) warned Islamabad that the project would take a toll on the cash-strapped country’s economy.

In the meantime, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang in a regular Press Conference held on November 25, 2019 said that China and Pakistan have clarified and refuted such smears time and again. However, some in the US still use the same old script and do the same old plots.

All said and done, speaking to an audience at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars on November 21/19 Alice Wells, acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, had said that the U.S. offered a better model that would improve the fundamentals of Pakistan’s troubled economy. She also had convincingly raised questions about the transparency and fairness of CPEC projects as well as related Chinese loans Islamabad has received.

Adding adequate strength to his nation’s stance on CPEC, the senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mushahid Hussain described the allegations by Alice Wells as disappointing ones.
Journalist turned politician Mr. Hussain noted that CPEC has ensured energy security for Pakistan and set the stage for an “industrial revolution” in the next stage of the massive project, which is already in progress.

“CPEC is central to Pakistan’s future and it’s a pivot of our strategic relationship with China and for which Pakistan has benefited already. We feel she had got her facts mixed up because of unfounded media reports, opined Hussain.

In a fresh move Pakistan’s Minister of Planning, Development and Reform Asad Umar said on November 29/19 that the government was increasing focus on the development of special economic zones (SEZs) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to accelerate industrialization and job creation in the country, writes the China.org.com in its fresh reporting.

The government is expected to perform the groundbreaking of the first special economic zone under CPEC by the end of December, the minister said, adding that another two SEZs will be open within the current fiscal year, the Chinese news agency further writes.

This is sure to generate employment for the Pakistani youths.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said that the ultimate success of Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC) would only be possible with the participation of more countries for becoming part of this important project.

“With participation of other countries the cooperation of CPEC between China and Pakistan would become more beneficial

All said and done, but yet the question need to be asked: Is China transparent? Will China assure countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal that its support today will not be a debt trap for these countries tomorrow? China better clarifies its real intent whatever it is?

It is in the greater interest of China to put the facts straight and end the continued debate.

Finally, Pakistan would do well if it takes the US advice in a good spirit. Being alert is not that bad than to weep later.

That’s all.