- Taking stock
Pakistan faces an important question as it goes through the motions of another Kasmir Day. In truth, the reality on ground in the valley is changing yet Pakistan’s approach to the conflict is not. India has long since put its cards on the table and has not only set the Line of Control alight with frequent mortar fire, but also visibly increased use of force and oppression when dealing with indigenous Kashmiri uprisings. And since even before the Modi years Pakistan’s policy at best only maintained a very unsettling status quo, it is surprising that it has not been revised even though Delhi has clearly gone onto the front foot.
Why was it, after all, that Pakistan singularly failed to rally international opinion in the wake of the violent crackdown that followed demonstrations after Burhan Wani’s assassination? Why was India more successful in selling its ‘Wani the terrorist’ line even as thousands of local Kashmiris took to the streets and braved unprecedented Indian oppression? Why, despite Nawaz Sharif’s lament at the UN, did nobody listen when we talked about Indian use of pellet guns that maimed and blinded young and old alike in the valley? And is whoever within or outside the so-called establishment that started or went along with the ‘caliphate’ idea still convinced it was a smart idea?
The ineffectiveness of Pakistan’s long-held policy is reflected in the very little traction it received even in friendly Muslim countries. Save the occasional line from Ankara and the odd offer of mediation from Tehran, not one of our brother countries has stood behind Kashmir; not even in the long years when we championed the Palestinian struggle and hosted their refugees. Islamabad should admit that a policy revision, at least, is urgently needed. And a good point to start would be exploring just why our outreach, even to friends, yields no good results in this matter.
