This is obviously a major setback to the effort to re-establish normal ties. A spokesperson for the external affairs ministry announced the talks had been cancelled due to Pakistan’s “unacceptable, interference” in India’s internal affairs. The Indian line being adopted is obviously unwelcome and falls in entirely with the nightmare scenarios that had been painted regarding Narendra Modi’s hard line position on Pakistan. We are now seeing this unfold. It is unfortunate that these developments come at a time when Pakistan’s government is eager to improve relations with India and has made overtures in this direction with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attending the new Indian PM’s oath taking earlier this year. There is obviously nothing wrong with Pakistan talking to Hurriyat leaders. Kashmir after all is a disputed territory with one part of it administered by Pakistan and closely linked to it. It would be absurd to pretend that Pakistan has no interest in the region. There has been much criticism of Mr. Modi’s policies at home. But, of course, the BJP government holds the affairs of India in an iron grip for now following its sweeping election win and the consequences of this for Pakistan are just now beginning to be felt. It is clear they are not very pleasant ones, and things could take a still nastier turn in the future.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (10)
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"There is obviously nothing wrong with Pakistan talking to Hurriyat leaders." --Then keep meeting them . We will devise our own formula to get rid of these irritants including pakistan . This is Modi's India now , a 20th century India thriving to get its ancient glory .
Pakistan is a signatory to the Simla agreement which states in no uncertain terms that Kashmir issue is bilateral. The question of involving a 3rd party therefore does not arise. Surely Pakistan is free to consult people in Pak administered Kashmir as India can and does consult the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir - the elected leaders you know. Just because a bad pracice has been continuing in the past does nt mean it should continue in the future.
In any case, Modi cancelling talks - that was your worst nightmare? Not much of a nightmare - eh?
When AB Vajpayee visited, Nawaz Sharif hugged him in Lahore and then Kargil happened. This time around, Nawaz Sharif won elections on the promise of improving ties with India - but, he's doing whatever it takes to sabotage the prospects of peace - again.
So, Mr Editor - point your arrow in the right direction.
As many Indian commentators have pointed out, India has taken a stand which in our opinion is right. It is Pakistan and India which will decide on the Kashmir solution at some point in time. If officially elected Kashmiri leaders have to give their inputs they are welcome to talk to their respective govts. That is it. No micky mousing with chai-samosa meetings.
Why do the Pakistani leaders want to meet the separatist Hurriyat leaders when Kashmir has an elected Assembly elected by its people ? The elected leaders always speak on behalf of their subjects, not some self appointed persons who claims to represent anybody. By your same logic India should be calling the leaders of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit for talks and consultations, before talking to Pakistan. Should the Indian Diplomats also be calling the Baluch leadership fighting for separation, to hold parleys ? What did India gain by talking should be very clear. After Vajpayee visited Lahore, India got Kargill, followed by an attack on Indian Parliament. Non State actors have been used to attack the Indian Embassy in Kabul and consulates elsewhere. However the turning point came with the sponsored 26/11 Mumbai massacre. India needs to merely watch intentions and actions, because talk is cheap and promises of Pakistan never allowing its territory to be used for attacks against India bogus. It is a different India today and that message was sent by sending a strong decisive leader into the PM's office, replacing the stumbling stuttering wafflers of the past. How Pakistan wanted to cope and work with the new India was left to its own wisdom. More of the same would never work but Pakistan is unable to grasp even what is obvious, though the world has been quick to see it and capitalize on the opportunity provided. That Pakistan is a divided country where the Military and elected government often have different goals and work at cross purposes if not openly sabotaging any outreach, has not helped matters one bit. Until the interests of its people and not Ideology guides Pakistani diplomacy, it will remain in conflict with not just India, but the world at large.
@Peter:
Awesome reply, especially the last paragraph........
The Modi/Doval strategy is to have Pakistan raises the issue of Kashmir in the next UN General Assembly session. And in response, PM Modi will up the ante and raise the issue of Pakistan's illegal occupation and sub-sequent amalgamation of "Azad Jammu and Kashmir", Gilgit-Baltistan and Baluchistan.
"Indian PM had accused Pakistan of staging a ‘proxy war’ in Kashmir, a charge firmly denied by the Pakistan Foreign Office"
The entire world knows this. Nothing changes by denying.
Pakistan has waged proxy war for almost 30 years and failed and failed and failed.
All it did was get the entire world hating it.
And now deny?
It would be advisable for Pakistan to meet the elected Kashmiris, who are the true representatives of the Kashmiri People. The Huriat leaders never take part in Elections. Besides,India should get in touch with those elected in AJ&K.
Dear editor, your blind nationalism amuses me. First of all, if the two countries want to talk and build confidence measures they have to respect each others sentiments. India very clearly told Pakistan ambassador to refrain from talks with Kashmir leaders as in the past it has created lot of noise in the Indian parliament, google it and you will find it. Despite noticing these concerns Pakistan's ambassador continued to meet the separatist leaders. India could have very well asked Pakistan ambassador to leave India on defying govt. orders. India did not. Think rationally, can Pakistan has guts to first meet Muslim leaders of Xinjiang province in China to raise their voice before meeting chinese leaders? Also there is no hue & cry in India regarding Modi's policies, where did you get your news, please share. It was Modi who made overt gesture to include SAARC countries leaders. You leader took time to decide, while others did not. If Mr sharif would not have attended then whole world would have frowned by that action. So it was political mileage for Pakistan too. Please dont wrap it in goody-goody action on part of Pakistan. Tribune, i am not sure you are going to publish this comment or not, but atleast send this comment to the editor who wrote this article, so that the editor can write a more unbiased article (what his job should be).