Govt to step up diplomatic drive on Kashmir issue

Foreign dignitaries will be apprised of India’s designs to ratchet up tension

ISLAMABAD: As India continues to ramp up tensions with Pakistan, the federal government is set to implement key decisions taken last month at top legislative and executive forums to keep the Kashmir issue in the international spotlight.

In October, an all parties conference (APC), a joint session of parliament and a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting unanimously put weight behind government’s efforts to highlight India’s unprecedented human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir at relevant international forums.

Pakistan should not internationalise Kashmir issue: Indian minister

Well-placed official sources said the government and security establishment have exchanged notes on the prevailing situation and concerns have been shared by both the sides that an upsurge in terrorism in Pakistan and tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) is part of India’s plan to sideline the Kashmir issue. They said this stance will be part of the agenda at top-level official meet-ups between Pakistani and foreign dignitaries taking place both abroad and in the country.

“The government and security brass agree that military options will be exercised to respond to Indian aggression and diplomatic efforts will be accelerated to highlight the Kashmir issue,” an official said. “There is a fine distribution of functions. The military is doing what it is best at, and the government has to do what it is supposed to. Military manoeuvres and political pursuits will go side by side.”

The official sources also said the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will tasked with contacting Kashmiri leaders in Indian Occupied Kashmir to map out a strategy to highlight Kashmiris’ plight.



Speaking to The Express Tribune, Kashmir Committee Chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the onus is on the government to press the international community to resolve Kashmir issue. “Political parties and parliament have thrown their weight behind the government irrespective of political divisions and differences. Now, it’s up to the federal government to act,” he said.

In a notable development, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his recent visit voiced concern over situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir and extended the ‘highest degree of support for Pakistan” on the issue.

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