Re: PLAN submarines Thread II
No cultural exchange?? for your information the people from this region have been trading with each other since before the silk route
Names and places in this article are translated from Chinese version and accuracy is not guaranteed.
Two ordinary Pakistanis have become famous in Pakistan.
For 27 years they companied the brave souls of 88 Chinese in the Chinese cemetery in Gilgit northern Pakistan. 2nd Aug, they arrived in Beijing at the invitation of China's ministry of foreign affairs. Before their departure for Beijing, they were accompanied by their relatives to Islamabad for a special program by Pakistan TV station. News reporter met them in Huafeng hotel Bejing 4th Aug.
Mr. Ali Madad 65 and Mr. Ali Ahamad 48 who never left the cemetery for 27 years looked most ordinary. For this interview, they put on their national costumes. Mr. Madad who has lost his hearing in one ear and can only speak Gilgit sat still during the interview. Mr. Ahamad can speak Urdu and a little English was responsible for answering all the questions.
The cemetery was devoted to Chinese who died in building the Kalakunlun highway. This highway is called China-Pakistan Friendship road and was built in accordance with agreement between the two nations. It runs through Pamir plateau, the roof of the world. It stretchs 1200 kilometers, the project was started in 1966 and finished 12 years later. Due to the difficult terrain and weather, frequent avalanche, landslide, mudslide, more than 100 Chinese engineers and workers devoted their lives their. Apart from few bodies which were sent back to China, most of them are sleeping on Pakistani soil.
1977, before the completion of construction Mr. Madad and Mr. Ahamad, who took part in buring the Chinese submited their applications to be volunteer guardians of the cemetery and their applications were quickly aproved. In Jul 1978, the cemetery was established on Pakistani soil, in the center, a white monument was erected on which engraved : "The graves of Chinese who devoted their lives in building the Pakistan highway". Mr. Ahamad told the news reporter that their homes are close to the cemetery, since then, they visit the cemetery almost every day and they never left it for 27 years.
Every tomb stone is circled by flowers
When talking about the cemetery, Mr. Ahamad got excited. He said that, except 88 tomb stones, there are more than 800 trees, every tomb stone is circled by flowers. All of this is done by him and Mr. Madad. Mr. Madad is in charge of the gate and cleaning, he is responsible for trees and flowers. Mr. Ahamad said proudly the many people think the work requires atleast 5 people but is done by them two.
They regard it as a supreme honur
Many people come here to commerate, including Chinese delegations, Chinese travelers and local Pakistanis.
Last year is the 25th anniversary of the opening of this road, Mr. Wang yi, the vice minister of China's foreing affairs visited the cemetery and the two gardians.
Ahamad told the reporter, Pakistanis know, some Chinese gave up their lives to build the road, and they are proud to attend to these brave men. When asked what is their wish, they said, they hope the tomb stone be repaired, for some of the names on the stones are difficult to recognize. Their duty is to keep the cemetery more clean and beautiful to give martyrs relatives consolation.
Ahamad said, they both receive 360 Rupee (about 50 Yuan) from the government, this is not salary, it is subsidy, they live on crops in their fields. When asked how long he will continue, Ahamad said, until I can't work, then I wish my son can take my place.
In 1997, when Hongkong returned to China, Mr. Madad and Mr. Ahamad were invited to Kashgar. This was their first time to bejing. When talking about his impression of Beijing, Ahamad said with exageration: Seeing Beijing is like seeing the stars in the sky, this city is monderful
