Course correction

Core issues to be solved with India before anything else

Has our foreign office become used to taking flaks from other countries on issues that concern our national interests? Its ambiguous failures in timely responses to many issues that hit the cords of our national interests in the past are a testimony to the fact. Sometimes it does respond on issues but only at a time when too much water gets flown under the bridge. This time it was an issue that has strategic value for Pakistan and one for which hundreds of our finest country men have laid their lives. By not rekindling the media at home on the Indian assertions on Kashmir at the UN forum has surprised many in Pakistan. The issue could have generated a strong public debate at home to reassure Kashmiris of Pakistan’s focus on their rights.

President Zardari while addressing the UNGA did well by raising two serious issues. One, the Kashmir issue; and two, the surging blasphemy trends in the West against Islam under the garb of ‘freedom of speech’. He showed his concern on Kashmir issue that remains closeted in UN coffers pending action. The president whole heartedly supported the ‘right of self determination’ for Kashmiris and tried to rekindle the conscience of international community to afford them a chance to exercise their right of self determination, a resolution passed by the UN on 21 April, 1948, to which they remained signatories as well. President’s assertions at the forum naturally had inputs of foreign office also. However, it did lose an opportunity to re-awaken the local and international media on the issue. The rumblings over blasphemous film may have taken the focus of our foreign office away from building on the Kashmir issue.

Indian foreign minister S M Krishna addressed the UNGA on 01 October and had said, “An unwarranted reference was made from the UN podium….we wish to make it abundantly clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.” Though Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Raza Bashir Tarar did well when he exercised his right to reply to the Indian minister’s statement by saying that, “Let me begin by emphasising that the reference to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in the President of Pakistan’s statement was not ‘unwarranted’ and let me also make it absolutely clear that Jammu and Kashmir is neither an integral part of India nor has it ever been”.

India says that Kashmir is a bilateral issue according to Shimla agreement but no bilateral agreement can supersede UN’s resolution on the subject. With the plethora of pending disputes between the two countries all efforts being put in to enhance trade, liberalize visa regimes, parliamentarians’ reciprocal visits and initiatives like Aman Ki Asha (only reflective in a particular publishing house in Pakistan but not found anywhere in India), will eventually prove to be cosmetic developments without any fixed direction agreed between the two countries. Notwithstanding the exchange of remarks on the Kashmir dispute and S M Krishna’s terse remarks denying the reality, the fact remains that the bilateral process will always outdo tangible results of such exercises till the contentious issues remained pending. Taking guide from history, whatever development may take place in other spheres may be reversed by India anytime if, for example, any terrorist activity takes place somewhere in India and routinely linked with Pakistan.

Pakistan has moved with building on its relationship with India with the belief that India may mould its thinking on Kashmir and other contentious issues. Krishna’s remarks at the UN forum however have put aside that belief. Even in cases like Siachen where some agreements had been reached between the two, even those remain unimplemented to date. India’s water diversions on Indus and violations of Indus Water Treaty are adding to the list of core issues. Besides water, Afghanistan may also become another contentious issue between the two countries. India must realise that its relationship with Afghanistan needs Pakistani bridges, especially when the NATO/ISAF are destined to quit Afghanistan in near future. For this to happen India must attend to more pressing issues that keep regional peace hostage and show willingness in resolving them.

On a positive note the views expressed by the American State Department have made the Kashmiris optimistic on their cause. Acknowledging the status of the Kashmir as disputed and a pending issue in the UN list, Victoria Newland, US State Department spokesperson delved on the Kashmir issue, an issue that was also termed as ‘failure of the UN system’ by the President of Pakistan during his address to the United Nations, and said that the recent improvement between the two countries should lead to a more meaningful dialogue on Kashmir dispute. She went on to say,” With regard to our own policy on Kashmir, it has not changed. It has been the same for a long time.”

The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad and is working for an upcoming TV channel as a Senior Producer.