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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan launches strategic port | Pakistan launches strategic port |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is inaugurating a controversial deep sea port in the southern province of Balochistan on Tuesday. | Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is inaugurating a controversial deep sea port in the southern province of Balochistan on Tuesday. |
| Gwadar port is on the Arabian Sea at the mouth of the Gulf through which 30% of the world's daily oil supply passes. | |
| Officials say the port will benefit Balochistan. That is disputed by Baloch militants fighting the government. | Officials say the port will benefit Balochistan. That is disputed by Baloch militants fighting the government. |
| The current estimated cost of the port project is nearly $1bn. Much of the funding has come from China. | The current estimated cost of the port project is nearly $1bn. Much of the funding has come from China. |
| Pakistani officials have described the inauguration by President Musharraf as marking "a historic day" for the country. | Pakistani officials have described the inauguration by President Musharraf as marking "a historic day" for the country. |
| A high-level Chinese delegation is attending. | A high-level Chinese delegation is attending. |
| Gwadar is expected to provide strategic storage and transport facilities, as well as road and rail links to China. | Gwadar is expected to provide strategic storage and transport facilities, as well as road and rail links to China. |
| The port is seen by observers as China's first foothold in the Middle East. | The port is seen by observers as China's first foothold in the Middle East. |
| But the project, launched in 2002, has attracted a lot of controversy and opposition from national and international quarters. | But the project, launched in 2002, has attracted a lot of controversy and opposition from national and international quarters. |
| String of pearls | String of pearls |
| Baloch leaders are highly critical of the project accusing the federal government of sideling locals in the distribution of revenues and jobs arising from its development. | Baloch leaders are highly critical of the project accusing the federal government of sideling locals in the distribution of revenues and jobs arising from its development. |
| The issue, along with a similar dispute over mineral rights in the province, has erupted into a full scale insurgency between local tribesmen and government forces. | The issue, along with a similar dispute over mineral rights in the province, has erupted into a full scale insurgency between local tribesmen and government forces. |
| Hundreds have been killed in the fighting that has been going on since 2003. | Hundreds have been killed in the fighting that has been going on since 2003. |
| Six Chinese engineers have been killed by Baloch militants, three in 2004 and three in 2006. | |
| China's involvement has been viewed with hostility and suspicion not just in Pakistan, but also internationally. | China's involvement has been viewed with hostility and suspicion not just in Pakistan, but also internationally. |
| The port is said to be part of Chinese naval expansion along the Asian and African coasts called the 'string of pearls' initiative, according to a US Department of Defense report. | The port is said to be part of Chinese naval expansion along the Asian and African coasts called the 'string of pearls' initiative, according to a US Department of Defense report. |
| It entails the maintenance of ports and bases at strategic places in the region. | It entails the maintenance of ports and bases at strategic places in the region. |
| Observers say that United States as well as the Gulf countries have major reservations at the 'overwhelming' Chinese involvement in the project. | Observers say that United States as well as the Gulf countries have major reservations at the 'overwhelming' Chinese involvement in the project. |
| The Gwadar port is situated right next to the strategic Straits of Hormuz and its busy oil shipping lanes. | The Gwadar port is situated right next to the strategic Straits of Hormuz and its busy oil shipping lanes. |
| The surrounding region is home to around two-thirds of the world's oil reserves. | The surrounding region is home to around two-thirds of the world's oil reserves. |
| It is also on the shortest route to the oil rich Central Asian states through land-locked Afghanistan. | It is also on the shortest route to the oil rich Central Asian states through land-locked Afghanistan. |