![the writer has a master s degree in conflict resolution from the monterey institute of international studies in california and blogs at http coffeeshopdiplomat wordpress com the writer has a master s degree in conflict resolution from the monterey institute of international studies in california and blogs at http coffeeshopdiplomat wordpress com](https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/595946-SabinaKhanNew-1377622005/595946-SabinaKhanNew-1377622005.jpg)
The UN Security Council Resolution 91 established the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to observe and report violations of ceasefire along the LoC. However — in direct violation of the Security Council — the Indian military has restricted UNMOGIP’s activities on its side of the fence. Pakistan, on the other hand, continues to report all ceasefire violations to the UNMOGIP. If there is nothing to hide, and human rights atrocities are not being committed in Kashmir, then the UN observer group should be given full access along with human rights groups, which should be welcomed with open arms.
Unfortunately, Pakistani concerns regarding the Kashmir dispute too often fall on deaf ears. The combination of media image control, sheer size and a strong Indian lobbying presence in DC, provides our neighbour with a significant advantage. For instance, the Wadhwani Chair in US-India policy was established in January 2011, at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies to assess economic and “strategic issues”. This DC chair was made possible due to ‘generous support’ by the Wadhwani foundation. There’s no need to wonder why the mention of a UN plebiscite is met with immediate objection from so many foreign South Asian experts, despite the fact that both India and Pakistan are signatories of the UN Security Council resolution mandating the action.
It is time to move beyond old arguments and rhetoric convenient for each side. For instance, expecting Pakistan to withdraw its military from Gilgit-Baltistan, while India keeps 500,000 troops in Kashmir, is not reasonable. Similarly, China is not going to relinquish its land either. The environment has changed and the status quo is not leading anywhere as 23 UN resolutions remain unimplemented. Yes, there are terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistanis are victims of those terrorist attacks as well. There is also growing extremism within India, for instance, the rise of Narendra Modi and company. So, denouncing Pakistan is not the solution when it is obvious that these terrorists are not under the control of the state. A more fitting response would be to engage in some constructive conflict-resolution to resolve this dispute and eliminate a source of unnecessary violence. Dialogue between the two countries should not be held hostage by each firing episode at the LoC; no progress will ever be made in that case.
Facing a withdrawal of US troops and the ensuing chaos on its western border, Pakistan has a clear motive to avoid upheaval on its eastern border. As the self-proclaimed largest democracy in the world and an epitome of development and human rights, India has an opportunity to prove these declarations are more than mere window dressing. Pakistan has enough demons of its own to deal with, hence, it desires a peaceful resolution with India more than ever. Instead of calling it a ‘bilateral’ issue and then refusing to discuss it, both countries should welcome the UNMOGIP, determine what the Kashmiris want and end this dispute once and for all. Until this happens, all that the toothless UN can do is keep reiterating the need for peaceful talks, attempts at these dialogues will likely be hijacked and terrorism will keep festering in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (87)
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It appears that ET is only interested in Indian remarks. They have not pubkished mine though I saw no reason.
@Californian Desi: Everybody with open mind is welcome :) . We may not be game changer or may not influence the hawkish mind of our government back home. But we certainly enjoy the friendship, movies, cricket, food and cultural activities. Wish it was this easy back home. everything remains in harmony as long as you respect each other's belief and not imply your own on others. This mutual respect to each other's belief is what I see seriously lacking in our home land. Hope we the expatriates can set a better example for our desis. Peace!
Not sure why ET censored my comment... But here goes again..
@Author - "There is also growing extremism within India, for instance, the rise of Narendra Modi and company. " Well err... not exactly... Atleast most of the Indian populace and courts don't see it that way. Even if he's one, he's not exporting it outside.. None of our neighbours including your Govt has complained of Modi creating trouble on their turfs. So this argument of yours goes down the drain.
"So, denouncing Pakistan is not the solution when it is obvious that these terrorists are not under the control of the state" Well, you cannot wash of your hands by citing these are not under your control. You created them, so clean these up... We don't care if these are under your control or not...
India is trying its best and utmost to create the atmosphere of war by violating LoC to show and prove falsely and untruly its superiority,greatness and power on the other countries most especially importantly on Pakistan in South East Asia.......
@Lala Gee: A plea against partitioning Kashmir? Wow, look who is talking!
@Californian Desi: Hit the nail on the head. Spectacular reply my friend as always.
@Lala Gee: The CIA numbers at birth are inaccurate for India and do not match our census of 2011 or 2001. http://www.census2011.co.in/sexratio.php
Overall sex ratio was 933 in 2001 census and went up to 943 in 2011 census. Sex ratio at birth was 927 in 2001 census and went down to 919 in 2011 census
In any case no one in India sweeps the problem under the carpet, our Prime Minister speaks about i, our filmstars speak about it our Nobel Prize winning economist speaks about it. While there are obviously many ground level programs to improve women's empowerment socially, economically and politically, it is also important to talk about it, so as to change the mindset of son preference which is at the root of the problem.
The whole world knows that the fascist Indians are butchering and torturing thousands of innocent Kashmiris. India shall be defeated in Kashmir. Right always prevails.
If you can generously give part of Kashmir to China who has no cultural or historical link to the land then for the sake of peace why can you not accept that India too has a piece. Accept the LOC as a border and get over it.
@Agnostic:
Lets not forget Jinnah asking for land corridor from West to East Pakistan..Since Pakistan still insist , i think its time for India to open all 47 issues and go though them one by one. After all , we all know the agenda of partition is unfinished. We need to discuss transfer of population, freely donated Indus Water etc.
@neil: When they start talking about poverty, hunger, and such it usually means that they have run out of ideas.
@Brookside:
"its children(Sind, Baluchistan)could be taken from her for the betterment of children."
LOL. Your comment is proof that Fools Paradise actually exists. Why don't the world see any public demonstrations, protests, and strikes in Sindh and Baluchistan, which are a daily routine in the Indian occupied Kashmir, but only the bomb blasts and target killings by Indian sponsored terrorists. By the way, you forgot to mention KPK, GB, and Azad J&K in your drivel.
"Why did this child of Pakistan decided to separate from “mother” Pakistan?"
Perhaps you were born yesterday, otherwise you'd have known that India was responsible for their separation, first by instigating insurgency there through her agents, and then invading the country. No doubt our rulers made blunders, but had Pakistan been the size of India and India the size of Pakistan, not only that would never have happened, but also Khalistan would have been a reality since long, as well as a dozen more nations would got their freedom from Indian clutches.
@gp65:
"Secondly, the sec ratio in India is 940 women per 1000 men. In Pakistan this is 941 women for 1000 men. So I would suspect that this horrible and shameful practice is certainly matched in Pakistan. The difference is India acknowledged the shameful problem, makes no attempt to sweep it under the carpet and is working to solve the problem."
Here are the exact numbers taken from the "CIA World Fact Book".
India: at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female = 893 females /1000 men 0-14 years: 1.13 male(s)/female = 885 females /1000 men /1000 men
Pakistan: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female = 952 females /1000 men 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female = 943 females /1000 men
Now see who is creeping the shameful problem under the carpet. So much so to the courage for acknowledging reality.
@Lala Gee
What happened to the "piece of the child" that was handed over to China by your so called "real mother"?!
@Lala Gee: Nice narrative except that Pakistan was the one who cut Kashmir into half by your actions in 1947-8. . By the way it is no ordinary tale. It is the story of King Solomon from the Book of Kings I.
@ aaqib brother u r funny we were taking abt war now u shifted the goalpost to poverty and hunger lol atleast u admitted that india is 8 times bigger and comparable to china so tell me why should india talk to pak as equals ? does pak talk to nepal as equals ? u reinforced my point india and pakistan r not in the same league the sooner the punjabi generals understand that the better in the meantime invest in some candles and hand fans take care
@Lala Gee: Nice story, but how did Pakistan treated its own child Bangladesh ? Why did this child of Pakistan decided to separate from "mother" Pakistan ? Pakistan is proving to be very bad mother who have habit of claiming neighbor's child as its own without caring how its own children Sind and Baluchistan are doing . India wants peace that's why its ready to accept LOC as borders but like its is widely known if Mother (Pakistan) fails in taking care of its children then its children(Sind, Baluchistan)could be taken from her for the betterment of children. E.T please publish this for open and fair discussion, thanks
@Sid: Appreciate your sentiments. There are people on both sides who act as multipliers of hatred. Though not in the driving seat, they have great nuisance value. Politicians are scared of them.
Dear Sabina, though I do not agree to quite many points you have raised here. Not because I am Indian, but simply because it is quite logically, strategically and emotionally eschewed version of facts. What I agree is irrespective of whatever strategic interest it holds, the people of Kashmir do have right to live and this enmity is perpetually destroying their lives. We have quite a small group of people both Indians and Pakistanis who meet from time to time talking about how we can bring in peace and how we co-exist with each other back in our homeland the way we co-exist, respect and mingle with each other here in foreign land. There is a wall of misconceptions, lies and brutal history which gives us each the fear of imaginary monster on the other side. Truth is that common men of India and Pakistan just want to earn their livelihood and take care of their beloved. Not many people have time to think and hate the other. Those who have ample of time since they don't contribute to society they just become self proclaimed specialists on subject matter they half understand and mostly have no knowledge on background. I would love to meet more like minded people like yourself in Bay Area to start an open discussion forum on bringing our people together, rather than encouraging the devil in us to continue hating each other. Other than a Hindu and an India, I am just a fellow human. Khuda Hafiz!
Have quite many Pakistani fiends here in California. And am living close to quite a huge Pakistani population. I havent came across many who share your delusion. Infact your claim that you are student of conflict-resolution from Monterey Institute is a cruel joke on yourself. Please put your education to better use rather than propaganda. Answer to ever lasting peace is very simple. Pakistan should stop sending terrorist to claim kashmir. India will withdraw troops, investment will flow in the valley and Kashmiris will prosper. But as you see the obvious stalemate, Pakistan will never stop terrorism in Kashmir, because by doing so Kashmir will prosper, the people of Kashmir will get a chance to see what democracy of India brings to it, and it will never choose to join Pakistan. Do you like golf ? If so, we can meet at 17 mile drive.
@C. Nandkishore: I totally agree..
There is tale of a child in classic literature who was simultaneously claimed by two women as their child; one of them of course was the real mother, and the other fake. The case was presented before 'Qazi' (Judge) for decision. Both women were crying and showing true love for the baby, and it was impossible for the Qazi to find out which one was the real mother. So, he gave the order to cut the child into half and give each piece to both women. On hearing this order, one women instantly accepted she was not the child's mother, and requested the Qazi to hand over the baby alive to the other women. It was not difficult then to know who was the real mother of the child.
Now look at the Kashmir dispute. Unlike the child in the tale, Kashmiris are a nation of millions of adults who can themselves decide who is their real mother. However, the Indians, like the fake mother of the story, feel no pangs of pain in cutting Kashmir in to pieces -- as they are more than willing to make the LOC as permanent border -- and take half the piece. This proves what is the reality, and legitimacy, of their claims over Kashmir. Kashmiri people know this fact, and that is why they would never accept Indian rule over them by becoming part of India.
Back to square one. Oft-repeated cliches and arguments. Sabina does not mention that largest budget in Pakistan foreign affiars is for Kashmir and so it is in Defence area. The Independent Council on Kashmir was funded by Pakistan which was recently exposed. Focus should be on moving forward: Shimla Agreement, and even the deal that was being negotiated by Musharaff and so on. It is easy to throw stones but difficult to build a bridge. The majority of Kashmiris live in India and since when the Govt. has assumed the spokesmanship role for Kashmiris.
Okay, I write again. Madam, the issue is Pakistan, not Kashmir,. RSS may talk about Akhand Bharat, but its really the Congress that has not recoiled itself to Pakistan. It wants to undo the partition. Rahul has said that he is proud that his grandmother has broken Pakistan into two. Correlate Rajiv and Siachen. See how in Sharm el Sheikh Manmohan equated Baluchistan and Kashmir, thus bringing the accession of Baluchistan to Pakistan into question. Rahul is there for the next generation as Congress head. Next two years will see Paktoonistan in the news. Boa's coils are inescapable.
@Agnostic: "Junagarh, Kashmir, Hyderabad, Bangladesh, Siachen and now ET’s website. There is a pattern over there. " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Why is Kargil missing in the above:)?
@Agnostic: Not just a pattern but also a lesson there that Pakistan is refusing to learn.
India wants Kashmir, it does not care about Kashmiris.
Please I urge readers that this is not a forum where we start balming india and pakistan for what they stand for? the writer has clearly stated what she thinks/ or are her views according to facts as she sees it. it is possible some might agree and some might not.what i read is sad because all i see is a few pakistanis and indians are arguing over matters that are far more complex them being discussed here. i urge people to please refrain from such acts and to try and think of the matter itself, it is indeed a grave situation where india and pakistan are standing today, what i dont want my children to see is another war between the two countries. havent we learned anything fromour history?
ETBLOGS1987
@Agnostic: "Junagarh, Kashmir, Hyderabad, Bangladesh, Siachen and now ET’s website. There is a pattern over there".*
Bangladesh? India is occupying Bangladesh?
Anyway, if this pattern exists what is the warrior race doing to put the weak cowardly Hindu banias like us in place - inquiring minds want to know.
Junagarh, Kashmir, Hyderabad, Bangladesh, Siachen and now ET's website. There is a pattern over there.
ETBLOGS1987
Both sides may blame each other for starting a problem but that does not establish equivalence. One has to be speaking the truth, the other lying.
ETBLOGS1987
Both sides may blame each other for starting a problem but that does not establish equivalence. One has to be speaking the truth, the other lying.
In case ET is groping for an editorial policy, I would recommend articles such as the one on F-16s published today - it is a hard-hitting blog on an important issue and highlights a key, but self-defeating national obsession.
There is no point in publishing Kashmir-related articles unless the author begins with the facts of the case.
India and Pakistan both may be victims of terror but source of terror is the same - Pakistan. Secondly no one is fooled by the false equivalence of comparing Modi with Hafiz Saeed. Even if Modi were an extremist (and extremist who has managed to rule Gujarat for 11 years without a single communal riot occurring), he did not send 10 people on a boat from the ports of Gujarat to Karachi and thus good/bad/ugly it is for India to figure out what role he will play in our future. It is no concern of Pakistan.
The gist of this article is, India and Pakistan cannot be trusted to resolve their issues bilaterally and each will keep exaggerating their clams and hence we need somebody like UN to come in and play police. Pakistanis have already agreed to this and if India does not agree, nobody should complaint against rising terrorism etc... Independent of how successful Pakistani government is in handling internal terrorism, it has the responsibility to act on terrorists working against Other nations(India, Afganistan). There is no action on the ground that says that Pakistani Government is doing that. We are not proposing war but talks can wait until we see clear signs that Pakistani Government is taking action against terrorists targeting India. Is this too difficult to understand?
Its becoming quite futile reading these continuous Op Eds on this website without any innovation or a shred of a new idea. Even my previous comment which was very respectful, albeit being sarcastic, was not published. I think I have to stop coming to this website if open discussion is not welcome. In this attempt I would like to remind the author about how wrong her perception of India is and therefore her analysis of the situation is absolutely incorrect. She says, "there is also growing extremism within India, for instance, the rise of Narendra Modi and company". If anyone believes that a three time elected chief minister of an Indian state heading a constitutional body is an evidence of "rise in extremism", I dont know what democracy looks like. She might not like Narendra Modi or his politics, but to say his election somehow shows an entire state and its people are therefore extremist, only in Pakistan someone can take that argument seriously. Also, I know Pakistanis analysts likes to harp on UN resolution, but may I remind her about Shima agreement which effectively nullify the UN resolution. Or is it she forgot that her country after losing a war made that agreement, but now that is is inconvenient she can forget about it? If this is an oversight then her analysis is wrong because of missing facts, and if this is intentional then she is misleading her gullible readers, which in this case again makes the analysis incorrect. How can one be so wrong and still be able to be published as an Op Ed, is there no editorial policy at ET about the content's factual standing or Simla agreement is caught in a collective amnesia all over Pakistan, even within its liberal joints?
Who should India hold a dialogue with --- PM Sharif, Al Qaeda chief Zawahri, LET chief Hafiz Saeed, JKLF shief Salahuddin, United Jihad Council or somebody else ? Sharif does not know what is happening and not in control of the terror network, having good intentions but without capacity to deliver. Pakistan talks about Kashmir with out any grounds, already having transferred parts of Kashmir to China, without approval of Kashmiri people or Indian people. After having proved its bona fides with such insincerity it has continued to exercise nuisance value, knowing no other strategy. As and when common sense prevails Kashmir dispute will get resolved. India will unveil new strategies for countering terror, making attempts at infiltration across LOC prohibitively expensive.
@Orakzai Khan: "Only in their heads is this a bilateral issue." The Simla agreement is on paper signed by both Governments.The Simla agreement states that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved bilaterally.
@aqib: The 1971 war against Pakistan was also a cakewalk for India.The largest surrender of troops after the World war.But Pakistan still did not learn the lesson.They started the Kargil war.Today Pakistan is saying they are the equal of India.Has India ever claimed that we are the equal of China.India has never attacked Pakistan,its the other way around.
excuse me !!!
narendra modi can't be compared to jehadis/fundamentalists in pakistan. he never encouraged anyone to mount attacks inside pakistan. i am saying this when i am not a modi admirer.
and for heaven's sake - stop mentioning that pakistanis have also suffered terrorism. it's your own creation and therefore you have to and should suffer.
india learned this lesson long time back and mended ways, pakistan refuses to learn lessons.
don't equate terrorism in pakistan with pakistan sponsored terrorism in india.
Please do not ignore the opinions of Kashmiri Buddhists and Kashmiri Hindus
All Kashmiris are not Muslims. The Valley around Srinagar does not speak for the full J & K State .
If there is nothing to hide, and human rights atrocities are not being committed in Kashmir, then the UN observer group should be given full access along with human rights groups, which should be welcomed with open arms.
Again, after UN resolution two countries signed the Simla Agreement in 1972 to define the Line of Control in Kashmir and on the agreement India and Pakistan disagree on UNMOGIP’s mandate in Kashmir. You should read the shimla agreement then you would understand India's actions. India did not report to any body after 1972.
Thats how sovereign countries act. They don't allow outsider to decide their fate.
I urge the author to study the statistics below to identify the root cause as to why Kashmir has been burning for so long. . January 1990 - April 2011 (21 years) 21,323 Militants killed by Security forces 13,226 Civilians killed by Militants 3,643 Civilians killed by Security forces 5,369 Policemen killed by Militants (includes approx. 1,500 Kashmir Police) 43,640 Total
Since when China owns a part of the land of Jammu & Kashmir (handing over possession of land land by Pakistan to China does not make china its owner) ? The same rhetoric of plebiscite but why don't you follow the first condition of UN resolution of removal / withdrawal of the Pakistani troop in toto and also removal of tribal entered the J& K held by Pakistan ( Pakistan loves to call it as Azad J&K) before plebiscite The biased journalistic behavior is more for the Pakistani audience to keep them continually misinformed. The bias reflects when author calls India as self proclaimed largest democracy which is a fact and admitted / accepted by the world over. ( refute the claim of largest democracy with facts, figures and reasoning) Regarding peace talks when Pakistan government is not in charge of it's foreign policy and also unable to enforce its writ on its own land in North Waziristan ( no go area) what can be expected with a talk. Peace appears to be distant dream when normalization of trade relation itself is far off and reflects the inability to reign in hate India mindset to allow themselves to accord MFN status to India.( India accorded the same to Pakistan a decade back.). Moreover disengagement of talks is has been assumed by the author and alike as drums of war which is incorrect. This is based on the assumption that either you are my friend or a foe and nothing in between.
@Orakzai Khan:
47desputes must be solved with using 47 paradigms. Ltes start from that time period. Pakistani forget that the country is homeland for the Muslims living on India Subcontinent yet many Muslims still keep living in India.To establish moral and other parity as well peace in South Asia ,I believe that this issue take prioirty over Kashmir and must be part of any bilateral discussion with Pakistan. India also need to amend the IWT as presently it only undermine Indian national interests.
@ sabina khan
pl take a hike. Kashmir is integral part of India.
If India stops infiltration of terrorists on its side through military action and Afghanistan does the same on its side, the terrorists will be confined to Pakistan. Unable to move to either India or Pakistan they shall tear up Pakistan from within. These terrorists cannot keep quiet and opt for peace at any time. They know it well that if they do so they shall lose relevance.
@ aaqib - lol R u Chinese ??...Y taking credit for someone else - I thought we were taking about India Pakistan ...lol....90000 soldiers surrendering (biggest surrender by an army in the history of modern warfare) ...and we liberated Bangladesh...lets see what your come back is now...facts plz ..no insults and crying...
@author: " ... For instance, expecting Pakistan to withdraw its military from Gilgit-Baltistan, while India keeps 500,000 troops in Kashmir, is not reasonable. ... "
Madam Sabina, I commend you on your bravery. You may have however committed blasphemy by bringing up the thought of Pakistan having to withdraw troops from Gilgit Baltistan; which IS ONE OF THE impediments that is holding up India from conducting the non-binding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
The rest of your opinion piece is more of why Pakistan is little red riding hood and why India is the big bad wolf.
This article is only what is expected from a Pakistani apologist. You conveniently ignore the fact that soon after independence invaders from Pakistan looted and killed Kashmiri Hindus which has still continued leading to Hindus leaving the valley. This has led to Muslims having a majority. No wonder Pakistan wants a plebiscite there. The
The Web Traffic Startegy of ET +++++++++++++++++++++ Include at least one article on Kashmir no matter how hackneyed .....I am sure the next and the next issues will also carry some similar regurgitated material. If the pen was mightier than the sword then Pakistan would have won Kashmir .
"So, denouncing Pakistan is not the solution when it is obvious that these terrorists are not under the control of the state" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Latest Paki strategy; being not responsible by being irresponsible.
Madam in 1999 an Indian PM travelled by bus to Pakistan to wage Peace. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ He was back stabbed and the rest is Kargil. Do you expect the same people to fall for such fanciful arguments again?
We cannot force a solution on Kashmir, perhaps same as India cannot force China to give up the part of Kashmir, that it controls. @Neil, now try to remember what happened to your troops in 1962,at the hand of Chinese. It was a cake walk...
only if it was that simple
I thought the author was a conflict response expert and was disappointed that this read more like a blog. Then I read her credentials again and realised that this is indeed only a blog. Hence all inaccuracies and generalities can be forgiven.
Narendra Modi at par with Hafeez Saaed, LET, Haqqanis, Taliban etc? RIsing extremism in Pakistan and India? Not surprising to see the contrived and spurious attempt to establish parity where none exists. Please don't withdraw your troops from POK - India has never asked you to. You can fight terrorism if you want to - no one can make you.
Why Indians forget about the UN Resolutions which let the Kashmiris decide their future? Only in their heads is this a bilateral issue. The status-quo has been tried and will forever fail. Sure no country likes to lose "it's land", but this is about democracy and Kashmir. Not Indian territory.
Childish and one side article . Nothing new.
Both countries know what the Kashmiris want. One is okay with it, one will try to deny it. This situation is unlikely to persist as the one denying it will eventually lose.
Dear Author, Plz clarify
1) Are you comparing Mr Modi who is elected Chief Minister from Gujrat three times and terrorists in Pakistan. And then in the same breadth make a plea to respect democracy.
2) are you aware that Pakistan is suppose to vacate first from Kashmir.Can you please have it implemented in accordance to the UN resolution.
3) "China is not going to relinquish its land either" -- Who gave the land to China which you are claiming is Chinese now.
4) Under Shimla agreement signed by your own government, UNMOGIP is irrelevant.
5) Can you please scan your own newspapers and solve your own human rights violations before going on to Kashmir.
I assure you, Indians will be very happy if Pakistan can leave us alone. We have no desire to have a shooting match on LOC or beat the drums of war. Rather than proscribing us, you should start with the root of the problem at your end in Rawalpindi.
Do you think after handing Kashmir you people will remain silent ? If we give it on platter still you people will interfere
The same old myopic, one-sided, "we-victim-you-oppressor" blahrguement we've heard countless times. The only thing new in the 2013 edition of this ghissa-pitta record is the Modi-bashing line. That's getting to be quite a fashion.
I hope you had a lovely time in Monterrey because you could have written all this without getting a degree in conflict-resolution.
Another columnist and again missing out the single biggest point why Kashmir is important. Why do all writers on the subject miss or don't have the courage to address the core issue.
The core issue has not been assimilating the Muslims of 'Occupied Kashmir' into Pakistan, that is a convenient smokescreen which looks even more ludicirous considering the state of the Muslims of current Pakistan. The core issue has always been the control on the lnd n aifeblood of Pakistan, the rivers emanating from 'Occupied Kashmir'. And that matter has gone from bad to worse.
So come out into the open and confront India on the waters not the Territory.
How peace can be achieved when an easter bully wants hegemony in the region. No Peace untill then.
Authoress, Refreshingly new ideas. I literally fell out of the chair laughing....LOLzzz, thanks for the entertainment. Regards.
Author made reasonable statements, and pleaded for intelligent solutions. Let the personal attacks and other distractionary tactics begin!
And really what was the point of you studying in California if you had to remain as uninformed as that ansar abbasi chap on your talk shows or that Ikram sehgal character.
You just said that Pakistan will not retreat from Gilgit Baltistan or Azad Kashmir, you also said that the Chinese will not give up their territory. So basically you are saying that INdia should be the understanding chap amidst all this intransigence and unilaterally withdraw from Kashmir. Why?
@author - not sure how old you are but -- U r conveniently forgetting 1971 - when Pak lost half the country now Bangladesh and 90000 soldiers surrendered and Bhutto had to come to Simla and sign something called the SHIMLA Accord - check whats written in it - Let me simplify for you - Kashmir will be settled by India and Pakistan Bilateraly ...got it ...good ..now you can go back to whining .....
@aaqib - U r right - India and PAkistan are not equal - check facts - other than a nuclear bomb (which china gifted you) there is no parity in any field - Pakistan's GDP is worse than Bangladesh - Our army is 5 times yours - other than Zaid HAmid and Hamid Gul noone believes you guys can beat us in a war especially after losing in 65/71/Kargil etc ..the list is long ....so you are right my friend we are the hegemon - and what are you going to do about it ...
Prove Narendra Modi is an extremist...quote any reference or any court ruling.. you cant. Whats to say the rest of your article is also just biased news without any proof. A very bad piece of journalism...
@Author "China is not going to relinquish it's land either" It wasn't yours (Pakistans) to give away to China!
Peace can only endure between equals (West Europe). It cannot occur where one side aims to maintain it's hegemony (Middle East, South Asia)
When I read the title I thought that a piece on Syria was to follow........but you chose a much repeated topic and I must say you have made sweeping statements that will be questioned.