China's ambitious One Belt, One Road project got a rare backing from United Nations (UN) on Friday. The massive intercontinental project that seeks to revive the traditional maritime route was mentioned in a paragraph in the UN resolution that was adopted unanimously by all member nations.    

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The UN resolution was tabled to extend the stay of the UN Assistance Mission in the war-stricken Afghanistan region for another one year. The concerned paragraph in the resolution called on all the countries to "strengthen the process of regional economic cooperation through regional development initiatives such as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (the Belt and Road) Initiative."   

The resolution also mentioned other regional infrastructure projects such as the Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and the recently signed Chabahar port project between India and Iran.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the One Belt, One Road Project as soon as he assumed the power in 2013. Xi's project essentially aims to bring a trade revolution by connecting China with rest of Eurasia through a series of massive infrastructure projects.

China claims that at least 100 countries spanning across different continents have lent their support to its flagship project.  

UN support may leave India Miffed      

The UN's support for the Maritime Silk Road project may leave India - China's regional rival - completely annoyed. New Delhi has repeatedly stated that its security is severely compromised due to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC), a part of One Belt Project, which passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The Indian government has lodged a protest over this issue with Beijing and Islamabad. But both countries, who share an acrimonious relation with India, have not paid any heed to New Delhi's concerns.

Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan, with both South Asian countries staking claim over the Himalayan region. The region has been split between the two countries through a Line of Control (LOC) since 1947. Both countries have fought four wars over the region.

The Indian government has so far not commented on UN's support for China's flagship project. But the local media has taken a critical note of it, claiming that the UN support has put India's sovereign claim over Kashmir in danger.        

TagsIndia, One Belt, One Road, Maritime Silk Road Project, China and India, china