Flashpoint Kashmir and UN efforts

PM rightly pointed out that non-resolution of Kashmir dispute is a source of tension and instability in the region

With the atmosphere getting extremely tense following a militant assault on Indian army headquarters in the Kashmiri town of Uri, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has made a passionate pitch to world leaders to help extinguish the flames in the disputed territory of Kashmir. The PM, who is in New York to attend the United Nations annual jamboree, has written letters to leaders of the UN’s veto club in the latest push by Islamabad to shine light on the grave human rights violations committed by Indian security forces in the occupied state. More importantly, the missives sent to five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, better known as P-5 countries, underscore the risks to regional peace and security if the festering wounds of Kashmir are left unattended and unaddressed. Even as jingoistic rhetoric from across the eastern border reaches a crescendo, and threatens to despoil an already volatile situation, Pakistan’s response appears calm and calculated.



The PM rightly pointed out that non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is a constant source of tension and instability in the region and a threat to international peace and security. Nawaz, in his speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, is likely to pick up this theme again to expose the uglier side of the Indian face. The UNGA session provides a great opportunity to champion the cause of Kashmiris, who are groaning under a reign of terror unleashed by New Delhi. The PM will likely be seizing that opportunity with both hands, as he has in his meeting with John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, on the fringes of the UN session. During this meet-up, the PM slammed India’s bid to wag accusatory finger at Pakistan over the Uri episode, in which 18 Indian soldiers died. He was at pains to emphasise that Islamabad has always fought terrorism as a moral obligation, and that he has reached out to neighbouring countries for regional peace, stability and prosperity. He was upbeat that the US administration and Secretary Kerry will use their good offices to help resolve issues between the two nuclear-tipped neighbours. When he delivers his speech at UN, he should highlight how the brutal use of pellet guns in IHK by India continues to be ignored by the international community. Also, the indigenous nature of the uprising touched off by the killing of Burhan Wani is a development that has returned the Kashmiri struggle to its roots, i.e. a population completely alienated from India and absolutely refusing all political overtures by New Delhi because they have invariably failed to address the core grievance. His speech will be closely watched for its tone and tenor given his attempts to improve ties with India. The current speech comes at a time when relations have dipped to new lows and therefore whatever Sharif says will have a huge bearing on our civil-military policy towards India in context of latest development in IHK. But away from the hurly-burly of New York, top commanders in Rawalpindi have made it explicit that they are ready to meet any challenge. Chairing a meeting of corps commanders, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif said Pakistan was ready to defeat any design against its integrity and sovereignty. “We are fully cognisant and closely watching the latest happenings in the region and their impact on the security of Pakistan,” he said in response to antagonistic statements issued by the Indian leadership after the Uri attack.

Given how things look grim, Islamabad will do well to continue mounting both political and diplomatic offensive to put India in a tight corner, so much so that it feels impelled to repair its frosty relations with Pakistan. As regards the Uri incident, India must furnish actionable intelligence to Pakistan if it wants the latter to cooperate in the probe it is conducting. Hurling of allegations against its neighbour will scarcely yield any positive results.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2016.

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