As discussed earlier of a possible acquisition of Telenor Pakistan by China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak) possibly to let Telenor get a green signal to enter the India.
The lastest news is that India is set to grant Telenor the necessary security clearance to increase its stake in Unitech Wireless to the legal maximum of 74% - but only on the condition that no employees from Telenor’s Pakistan subsidiary work for the Indian company.
The Economic Times newspaper notes that the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) was due to approve the investment, but delayed its decision pending a review of the security situation. Keeping the human assets of the Indian and Pakistani arms of Telenor separate is expected to take care of risks such as spying and subversion. The plan is reported to require that any Telenor employee who is, or has ever worked in Pakistan will be blocked from working in India. At one end the leadership of India are on talk tables to increase trade and grow relations with Pakistan, whereas at the same time imposing ban on employees who is or has ever worked in Telenor Pakistan to work in India.With this ban Telenor Pakistan’s CEO, Jon Eddy Abdullah, a non Pakistani and other foreigners associated with Telenor Pakistan will also not be allowed to work in India.
Telenor is also a majority shareholder in Bangladesh’s Grameenphone, but this was not considered to be such a significant security risk.
Source: Telecom Industry in Pakistan
