BEIJING: Kashgar -- an important transit point on the ancient Silk Route and a gateway between China and Pakistan -- has earned a special distinction during the ongoing visit of Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari. It has been declared a special economic zone, which is the magic formula that has catapulted several Chinese towns like Shenzhen into world class trading centers.
The move suggests that Chinese leaders are seriously considering plans to connect Pakistan with rail that would run through the difficult terrain near the Karokoram Highway, which connects Khunjerab Pass with Chinese towns including Kashgar. Indian strategic experts see the proposed railway plan as a serious military infrastructure close to the Indian border, sources said.
Zardari on Wednesday told a group of officials from the China Northern Railways Corporation that Pakistan was keen to build several new new lines for access to the Central Asia, West Asia and Chinese markets. He requested CNR to form a consortium with Pakistan Railways for to give shape to the plans.
The announcement makes Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the sixth special economic zone in China. This will mean preferential policy support for development of new industries in the city. This will mean a growing market for Pakistani exports.
Kashgar is also known as a hotbed of Uighur separatists indulging in occasional incidents of violence to press for their demand for an independent East Turkmenistan nation. China has been seeking both intelligence and military support from Pakistan to keep the Uighur militants in check and cut off their links with pro-Taliban forces across its borders.
At present, the Chinese military is engaged in a joint anti-terrorism exercise with Pakistan forces between July 1 and 11 on the bordering province of Ningxia.The decision to make Kashgar a special economic zone shows that China will rely more heavily on Pakistani military support to keep Islamic militants outside its border while offering Pakistan with a ready market to sell its goods.
