Rahul Bhonsle
Jul 16, 2016
Pakistan is frequently cited as a state in self-destructive mode. While every nation has the right to select policies that are congruent to the aspirations of its people and leaders when these create insecurities in the neighbourhood, these need to be contested in the public domain.
Kashmir is on the boil for the past week plus since the killing of terrorist leader Burhan Wani in an encounter on 8 July with the Indian security forces. Wani was a leader of the Hizbul Mujahideen a terrorist outfit falling under the List Of Banned Terrorist Organisations Under Section 35 Of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in India. Thus Pakistan is ipso facto declaring support to him through a cabinet resolution indicates scant regard for an international commitment to counter terrorism.
Pakistan’s political or military leaders are no bleeding heart liberals their record of human rights violations and war crimes are a gory chapter in the history of the Sub Continent which needs no recounting here.
This time, the Pakistan Cabinet has jumped into the fray fishing in troubled waters. A special meeting of the federal cabinet on 15 July chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, decided to mark July 19 as ‘black day’.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif thundered, “I and entire Pakistani nation steadfastly stand by Kashmiris,” against what he claimed, “Indian oppression.”
The reason for the emergency meeting of the Cabinet and the declaration of 19 July as the Black Day is not hard to fathom.
Two days later on 21 July are elections in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir [POK]. Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is desperate to show that it retains the trust of the people. With aggressive campaigning by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Zardari Bhutto and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf led by Imran Khan Nawaz is under pressure.
The worry over the impact of Panama Papers revelations is possibly bugging the Prime Minister, who has just returned from open heart surgery in London and is facing flak from the opposition with the Army also breathing down his neck.
Reports of posters in Pakistani cities asking Army Chief Raheel Sharif to take over had appeared last week mysteriously. This was an indirect signal to the political parties even though the Army denied any links to the episode.
While POK elections may not be central to the country’s polity, as Sharif knows loss in even peripheral areas may have a spiralling impact with just about a year plus left for the general elections.
The violence in Kashmir has provided a suitable handle for not only Nawaz Sharif but others as Bilawal Zardari Bhutto making his debut in electoral politics in POK.
A win for either party has become crucial however irresponsible statements that rouse the flames of violence in Kashmir is only adding to complex dynamics in the Valley.
If Islamabad has good of the Kashmiri people on its minds, it has to stop this mindless folly of propaganda and instead arrest and take action against the likes of Hafeez Saeed, the terrorist leader of the Lashkar e Taiyyaba perpetrator of the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has identified the internal politicking factor of elections in POK. A statement on 15 July commenting on Pakistan cabinet decision stated, “The self-serving actions by Pakistan in the last few days to derive political mileage out of the recent developments in J&K follow planned infiltration and terrorism aimed at India from across the Line of Control and the International Boundary. The attempts in Pakistan by various players to ingratiate themselves to the people of J&K in the run up to the so-called elections in territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation will not succeed”.
The context of the Pakistani statements very rightly identified by the MEA Spokesperson as, “self serving,” have to be played up in the Valley so that the innocent do not fall prey to the propaganda and should also take the wind out of the bag of the separatist fulminations.
India also needs to bring these statements to the notice of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has recently volunteered to mediate. This does not imply referring the issue to the United Nations but only bringing out the role played by the government in Pakistan and political parties in fanning violence in Kashmir. The test o f UN Secretary General ‘s commitment will be if he asks the Pakistani leadership to stop their vile fulminations on Kashmir, which are instigating violence.
On the larger plane exposure of Pakistan as an official sponsor of terrorist leaders as Burhan Wani painted as a victim of a social media campaign is also necessary which can be done in an appropriate forum.
These developments may also put a stop to Nawaz-Modi handshake for some time and if the contestation continues may also put the SAARC Summit being held in Islamabad in November in jeopardy.
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