Kashmir is an international dispute
Modi was being criticised both by his party members and the opposition for going soft on Pakistan. So, in order to counter that pressure, the Indian PM made a verbal attack on the state of human rights in the largest province of Pakistan with respect to area. But he avoided telling his people what his government has been doing with the people of Indian Held Kashmir since the death of Burhan Wani
On Indian Independence day, Narendra Modi said that he and his government will never tolerate terrorism on Indian soil. Targeting Pakistan, he said, “All those who are killing innocents … I want to tell them that this country will not tolerate terrorism and militancy. Return to the mainstream. The road of militancy and terrorism does not help anyone.”
He also raised voice for the “rights of people of Baluchistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir”. It is for the first time in the 69 years Indo-Pak history that any Indian prime minister gave a statement on the state of human rights in Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir.
It is a political statement. Modi was being criticised both by his party members and the opposition for going soft on Pakistan. So, in order to counter that pressure, the Indian PM made a verbal attack on the state of human rights in the largest province of Pakistan with respect to area. But he avoided telling his people what his government has been doing with the people of Indian Held Kashmir since the death of Burhan Wani.
Earlier this month, Modi had said at a meeting on Kashmir that it was time for Islamabad to explain to the world “why it has been committing atrocities on people in Kashmir and Balochistan”. Modi said that Baloch people want freedom from Pakistan.
In response to Indian PM’s statement, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri said on Sunday last week that not even one percent of the Baloch people want ‘freedom’. He also said that the entire IHK population wants freedom from Indian occupation. There is a big difference between the situations of IHK and Balochistan, he said while addressing a ceremony on Independence Day.
It seems that Pakistan’s Kashmir policy is no more hazy now. The government, by its actions and words, has sided with the right of self-determination of Kashmiris. Just a few days ago, the prime minister directed the Pakistani foreign office to raise Kashmir at all international platforms. Nawaz Sharif dedicated this Independence Day to Kashmir freedom. This irked India and Modi changed his tone towards Pakistan. Recent statements of Indian MPs, ministers and foreign office evidently show that they are not happy with the shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy. Pakistani High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit had to face strong criticism when he said that Pakistan will dedicate this year’s Independence Day to the “Azadi of Kashmir”. Now he is being strongly criticised in Delhi. Some of Indian MPs want his exclusion from India. Opposition says he should be termed persona non-grata.
Burhan Wani’s killing has given a new life to the Kashmir’s independence movement. Pakistan has timely responded this time with a loud and effective voice at international forums. India’s itching is understandable. They will not allow Pakistan to expose their atrocities to the outside world. That’s why they have been asking Pakistan not to interfere in their “internal matter”. Kashmir is neither an internal matter of India nor of Pakistan. It is an international dispute and must be resolved as per the United Nations resolution according to the will and wishes of the Kashmiris.
It seems that Pakistan’s Kashmir policy is no more hazy now. The government, by its actions and words, has sided with the right of self-determination of Kashmiris. Just a few days ago, the prime minister directed the Pakistani foreign office to raise Kashmir at all international platforms. Nawaz Sharif dedicated this Independence Day to Kashmir freedom
