The chairman of the parliamentary committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, on Saturday rejected United States’ (US) Defence Secretary James Mattis’ objection that the project passes through a disputed territory, Daily Times has learnt. The Senator took to Twitter to respond to ‘U-turn’ taken by the US Defence Secretary and said that the US was pandering to the Indian circles by ‘echoing’ the Indian version. Syed said he spoke to the US media outlet Voice of America (VOA) and pointed out how US’ position was ‘baseless’ and ‘contradictory’. He pointed out how ‘disputed territory’ was not a factor when the US contractors ended up building Mangla Dam in Azad Kashmir as a result of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Told Voice of America (VOA), regarding statement of Def Sec Mattis suddenly opposing ‘One Belt, One Road’: US stand contradictory & baseless — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 US officially participated in ‘1 Belt, 1 Road’ Summit in Beijing May 2017, with Del led by Spl Assistant to Pres Trump, so now this U-turn! — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 Similarity in US shortsightedness: Obama opposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank but failed miserably, now opposition to OBOR will fail — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 DefSec Mattis also added in opposing OBOR, in which CPEC is flagship project, that ‘it passes thru disputed territory’, echo’s Indian line — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 OBOR all about globalisation/inclusion/win-win cooperation/corridors & connectivity,contrasting vision to post 9/11 US model of use of force — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 US going against tide of history:opposing reg Econ coop, building barriers thru divisive policies, breaking Int’l consensus (Climate Change) — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 Suddenly US, courtesy India, in silly/shortsighted U-turn, discovers ‘disputed territory’ in the context of OBOR, to justify opposing China! — Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) October 7, 2017 Earlier, the US Defence Secretary said because the route comprises a disputed territory, it highlights the vulnerability of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiatives.