Senate suggests targeting Modi, his RSS ideology
Calls for countering India’s initiatives to demoralise Pakistan
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers remarks to reporters after meeting with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. June 7, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Amidst India’s repeated allegations of human rights violations in Balochistan, a key Senate panel has recommended to highlight Indian ‘fault lines’ while suggesting targeting the extremist Hindutva ideology.
Adopted by the upper house on Friday in the wake of heightened tension with the hostile neighbour, the first report of the Committee of the Whole titled, “Policy guidelines in view of the latest situation developing between India and Pakistan”, contains 22 guidelines.
Only 22% Indians endorse Modi’s Pakistan approach
The guidelines were presented in the house by the panel’s chairman and Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq. “India’s own fault lines in their alienated Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits as well as the growing Maoist insurgency be highlighted,” said one of the policy guidelines.
“[Indian Premier Narendra] Modi and his RSS ideology of Hindutva should be targeted,” it added.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came under fire by the opposition parties for not highlighting India’s hand in terrorism in Balochistan at the recently held UN General Assembly session.
A Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) operative and serving Indian Navy officer, Kulbushan Jadhav, arrested in March this year had confessed in a video footage of his involvement in fomenting terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi.
The panel’s seven-page report said the Indian spy’s arrest “should have been and should be raised at various important international forums along with the human rights violations in Indian held Kashmir.”
It put emphasis on constituting a task force for formulating a do-able and sustainable India/Kashmir policy that should include the chairs of committees of both houses on defence and foreign affairs as well as representatives of the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and intelligence.
“It would be appropriate to appoint a full-time foreign minister. Comprehensive outreach to those segments of Indian public opinion which are opposed to Modi’s extremism and his anti-Pakistan policies including political parties, media, civil society organisations and human rights groups,” it said.
The report said there is a need to counter India’s initiatives to demoralise and isolate Pakistan particularly amongst neighbours, Saarc members and members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Countering New Delhi: National Assembly panel calls for water diplomacy
“The efforts to cultivate Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Iran and the Central Asian republics plus Russia need to be redoubled, for which parliamentarians and parliamentary committees can play a pivotal role,” it said.
The report called for restoration and expansion of bilateral and Jammu and Kashmir-related confidence building measures (CBMs). There should be a non-episodic role/engagement of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Kashmir issue.
It said Pakistan should reestablish a public diplomacy office in the Foreign Office. “The soil of Pakistan should not be allowed to be used by violent non-state actors,” it said.
Sharing his views, Raja Zafarul Haq said the Senate condemns the brutalities committed by India against the innocent people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) and violations of human rights.
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani termed the adoption of the report a significant step towards ensuring parliamentary oversight on foreign policy matters. “I am positive this would go a long way in determining Parliament’s input, guidance and assistance in the foreign policy-making process,” he said.
Two bills passed
The Senate also passed a bill to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2012, known as the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as well as reorganisation and conversion of State Life Insurance Corporation (Reorganisation and Conversion) Bill 2016.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2016.
Amidst India’s repeated allegations of human rights violations in Balochistan, a key Senate panel has recommended to highlight Indian ‘fault lines’ while suggesting targeting the extremist Hindutva ideology.
Adopted by the upper house on Friday in the wake of heightened tension with the hostile neighbour, the first report of the Committee of the Whole titled, “Policy guidelines in view of the latest situation developing between India and Pakistan”, contains 22 guidelines.
Only 22% Indians endorse Modi’s Pakistan approach
The guidelines were presented in the house by the panel’s chairman and Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq. “India’s own fault lines in their alienated Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits as well as the growing Maoist insurgency be highlighted,” said one of the policy guidelines.
“[Indian Premier Narendra] Modi and his RSS ideology of Hindutva should be targeted,” it added.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came under fire by the opposition parties for not highlighting India’s hand in terrorism in Balochistan at the recently held UN General Assembly session.
A Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) operative and serving Indian Navy officer, Kulbushan Jadhav, arrested in March this year had confessed in a video footage of his involvement in fomenting terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi.
The panel’s seven-page report said the Indian spy’s arrest “should have been and should be raised at various important international forums along with the human rights violations in Indian held Kashmir.”
It put emphasis on constituting a task force for formulating a do-able and sustainable India/Kashmir policy that should include the chairs of committees of both houses on defence and foreign affairs as well as representatives of the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and intelligence.
“It would be appropriate to appoint a full-time foreign minister. Comprehensive outreach to those segments of Indian public opinion which are opposed to Modi’s extremism and his anti-Pakistan policies including political parties, media, civil society organisations and human rights groups,” it said.
The report said there is a need to counter India’s initiatives to demoralise and isolate Pakistan particularly amongst neighbours, Saarc members and members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Countering New Delhi: National Assembly panel calls for water diplomacy
“The efforts to cultivate Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Iran and the Central Asian republics plus Russia need to be redoubled, for which parliamentarians and parliamentary committees can play a pivotal role,” it said.
The report called for restoration and expansion of bilateral and Jammu and Kashmir-related confidence building measures (CBMs). There should be a non-episodic role/engagement of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Kashmir issue.
It said Pakistan should reestablish a public diplomacy office in the Foreign Office. “The soil of Pakistan should not be allowed to be used by violent non-state actors,” it said.
Sharing his views, Raja Zafarul Haq said the Senate condemns the brutalities committed by India against the innocent people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK) and violations of human rights.
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani termed the adoption of the report a significant step towards ensuring parliamentary oversight on foreign policy matters. “I am positive this would go a long way in determining Parliament’s input, guidance and assistance in the foreign policy-making process,” he said.
Two bills passed
The Senate also passed a bill to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2012, known as the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as well as reorganisation and conversion of State Life Insurance Corporation (Reorganisation and Conversion) Bill 2016.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2016.