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News

India implementing Kashmir agenda while ‘apprentice’ PTI govt makes hollow statements 

By Ashraf Mumtaz

October 28, 2020 05:56 PM


When India illegally annexed occupied Jammu and Kashmir in August last year, it established that it was undeterred by Pakistan’s nuclear capability. The initiative, undertaken in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, not only added to the miseries of the eight million subjugated Kashmiris but also showed that the enemy country did not expect any negative reaction from Pakistan even at a later stage. 

This attitude establishes that New Delhi would do in the occupied Kashmir whatever it wants to, giving little importance to the thunders made by the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. 

On Tuesday (October 27) as Kashmiris across the world observed a Black Day to mark India's occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, New Delhi notified a law allowing any Indian citizen to buy land in the occupied territory. India’s Ministry of Home Affairs formally notified new law for the purpose.

The new law has removed the condition that individuals purchasing land in the occupied territory be a permanent resident of the occupied valley.

The move is aimed at changing the demography of the territory so that more people vote in favour of India whenever a plebiscite is held at a later stage.

While India is going ahead with its plans, Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the world to work for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

He has asked the world to take practical steps to stop India from using state-terrorism as a tool to destabilize the region.

In his message on Kashmir Day, he said the international legitimacy of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is enshrined in the UN Security Council resolutions, which are binding.

The prime minister said it is the collective responsibility of all member states to ensure compliance by India with its international obligations. 

Will India change its plan about Kashmir after such soft statements coming from Pakistan’s prime minister? Can it be expected that the world will give these statements importance when the countries’ economic interests don’t allow such an approach? 

Pinning hopes on any forum in unrealistic without Pakistan first taking practical measures that create a situation that force the international community to intervene. 

The world community has done nothing for the rights of Kashmiris in the past and will remain silent spectator in the times ahead. This is essentially Pakistan’s responsibility and the Islamic republic has to perform it in cooperation with the Kashmiri people. 

Those in power would have to hammer out a new strategy keeping in sight the ground realities. 

And when the performance of the PTI government on this front is looked at, it’s totally disappointing. 

Except for making a few speeches about Kashmir at various fora, the prime minister has done nothing. 

He appointed Shehryar Afridi as the new chairman of the Kashmir committee, replacing seasoned politician Fakhr Imam. 

The new chairman has taken no initiative to discharge his obligations. He has not visited any country to highlight the Kashmir dispute and seek support from the host countries. 

What is more painful is the fact that the PTI government is about to complete half of its mandated term and it is still groping in the dark. The government of apprentices is yet to follow a result-oriented strategy. 

The government’s policies on the domestic front have already failed to give relief to people. Major problems facing the people remain unaddressed, as a result of which they are staging protests. Parties in the Pakistan Democratic Movement are mobilizing the people by holding rallies in important cities.  

The response to rallies in Gujranwala, Karachi and Quetta was encouraging – from opposition’s point of view.  

In case the government failed to assess the gravity of the situation, it may have to face consequences.


Ashraf Mumtaz


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