Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) shaking hands with Indian premier Narendra Modi (R). PHOTO: AFP
Right wing religious groups on Wednesday demanded the government must adopt an aggressive stance towards India on Kashmir issue as they warned they would not allow trade with the eastern neighbour unless the government changed its docile stance.
Converged on the platform of Jamaat ud Dawah (JuD), representatives of various religious groups criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not taking up Kashmir issue, water disputes and other contentious issues with his new Indian counterpart during his recent visit to New Delhi.
JuD had gathered large numbers of students and workers in Aabpara chowk in the heart of capital city on culmination of its weeklong activities to celebrate Youm-e-Takbeer – the date on which Pakistan conducted atomic tests in 1998 in response to India’s atomic blasts.
In his concluding speech, JuD chief Hafiz Saeed asked the government to adopt a tough stance on Kashmir, and force India to follow Nehru-Liaqat agreement of early 1950’s under which both the countries had pledged to protect minorities in their respective countries.
He also criticised efforts to normalise trade ties with India and suggested that Pakistan should focus on its trade ties with China and work on constituting a trade and economic block with Muslim countries on the pattern of European Union.
Ansar ul Islam’s Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil said Indians had proved the two nation theory correct by electing extremist right leader wing Narendra Modi. “By acquiring atomic technology, Pakistani nation has followed an important command of Allah, who has ordered the Muslims to stay strong for their defence,” he added.
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) former chief Gen Hameed Gul highlighted the services of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Gen Ziaul Haq, Dr A Q Khan, Dr Samar Mubarakmand, successive military chiefs and many others in acquiring atomic deterrence.
“One of our real heroes was also former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan who remained attached with this atomic programme in different capacities,” he said, adding that Pakistan had acquired atomic technology by 1984 and it had conducted cold test on April 20, 1989.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Talha Mahmood said the country was facing problems because the leadership was not sincere. He said Pakistan had become an atomic power because of the spirit of endurance of its people.
JuD central leader Amir Hamza said Modi had declared Hindutva rule in India, which was unacceptable. He claimed that if that happened India would split on the basis of religion once again and the Muslim population would converge to form another Pakistan. “The other religious minorities will have their separate homelands in what is today India,” he claimed.
Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Babar Awan said the prime minister’s team had let him down.
“The premier should have been briefed on the Kashmir cause. There are 23 conventions of the United Nations on Kashmir that are still pending,” he said.
Babar demanded that when the president addresses a joint session of both houses early next month, a resolution stressing to resolve the Kashmir dispute should be passed in the beginning of the session.
JuD central leader Professor Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki said the credit for May 28 atomic explosions went to the military. Criticizing the PM’s visit to India, Makki said they were not against the PM but the way things were being handled it seemed the government was its own enemy.
“There is no comparison between India and Pakistan,” he said alluding to PM Nawaz’s statement on the similarities between both the countries.
Meanwhile Yaum-e-Takbeer was celebrated across the country and programmes and rallies were held in cities including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Hazara division and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2014.
COMMENTS (18)
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You are welcome to get tough on everything now. High time at least now develop your country!
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: you are right! The muslims of India should get their rights. For example I studied from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad and it was a co-ed college with more muslim girls in my class than Hindus. When asked about Pakistan they would roll their eyes and look up. All are consultants in either India or the US. I think they deserve more for example membership of parliament, dual citizenships etc. There are many more examples, but no time to list them!
@Usman: Dear Usman there is no question of ifs and buts if ur bent on committing hara kiri then no one can save you.Good wishes,
NO matter what you predict and practise , the more you raise kashmir the more it will integarted into india. and becoz of kashmir PAK going to lose everything and will move away from india very far. Thank you hafeez.ET requested to publish this.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: they can go pakistan. please publish.
LAHORE: Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed urged India to “leave Kashmir” while addressing a rally in Lahore to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on Tuesday.
“No one could defeat the Muslims… If America had to run away, then India, you will have to leave Kashmir as well,” said Saeed amid chants of ‘al-jihad, al-jihad’.
Saeed expressed support for all Kashmiri leaders and prayed to God to protect and unite them.
“India’s army of 800,000 will lose… Kashmiris will get independence,” he said.
Pakistan observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 to denounce Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region claimed in whole by both countries.
The day has been observed in Pakistan since 1990 to pay homage to Kashmiris and highlight the plight for their birth right to self-determination, promised to them by the international community under the resolutions of United Nations Security Council. The day was observed as a public holiday.
A minute of silence was observed throughout the country at 10am, while rallies, processions, seminars and photo exhibitions were also arranged by Pakistani missions abroad.
Rallies, demonstrations, human chains by men, women and children were seen at various points across the country as well as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and at the connecting points between Pakistan and AJK to express solidarity with the struggling Kashmiris despite heavy rain in the area.
People formed Human Chains at Kohalla‚ Azad Patan and Mangla bridges connecting Azad Kashmir with Pakistan in rainy weather. The main function of the day was joint session of AJK Legislative Assembly and AJK Council at Muzaffarabad.
Free ration-packages on behalf of the people and the government were distributed among Kashmiri refugees at their camps situated in Muzaffarabad‚ Bagh‚ Kotli and Rawalakot districts.
Not just right wing, but its the demand of every Pakistani that Nawaz should be tough on Kashmir. An illogical country like India cannot take the pressure if Pakistan gets its house in order.
If Nawaz doesn't take the majority of Pakistanis into confidence when talking with India, he will be overthrown. This recent move has weakened his position greatly.
Proud for all these great leaders for their defense of our Kashmiri brothers. May Allah bless the Kashmiris always, they are a strong people.
India will break apart if its 15-20% Indian Muslim population are being attacked, forced to leave their homes, or accused of being Pakistanis, Bangalis, Arabs, foreigners, etc. Indian Muslims should be restored their rights in Muslim majority regions in Assam, Bihar, UP, Gujurat, Lakhshadweep, Hyderabad City, or they should be given the choice to separate if they choose to.
And what exactly does Pakistan have to "force" India to the negotiating table ? The status quo suits India very well.
And even if they did, as long as those "pressures" fall within the abmit of 'Diplomacy', it will be fine. But this time, the use of any "non-state" actors will be met with a disproportionate response. Is Pakistan willing to pay that price?
And as far as article 370 is concerned; Modi has other important priorities in the first year or two; but the abolition will definitely happen during the term of his govt.
Liaquat–Nehru Pact was to guarantee the rights of minorities in both countries - lets understand the % of minorities and their rights and their growth in both the countries - India has kept its promise
"..and force India to follow Nehru-Liaqat agreement of early 1950’s under which both the countries had pledged to protect minorities in their respective countries."
Better force Pakistan where minorities are targeted every day. In India minorities are thriving in every field.
The idea of India breaking is such a foolish hypothesis. It will never happen, we don't need an army for that, please Pakistanis understand it and don't waste time on it. Indians including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, atheist and agnostics alike will only laugh loudly reading this. Kashmir issue 370 is because of lack of leadership of congress family dynasty type leaders and the Kashmiri politicians who have milked it to get money and hide their corrupt practices, the fear will get caught in prevention of corruption act and Right to Information, panchayati raj etc. look election results 2014, out of six MPs from J&K, BJP has 3.
This was only state which Nehru handled, rest of India was handled by Sardar Patel including out Muslim majority areas. even Indian Muslims will never opt for Pakistan, look at the Bangladeshi illegal immigrants they doing jobs even in states as far as Kerala in the south.
article 370 is not going to be abrogated . Modi had suggested ( during his electoral campaign) let there be a debate with the kashmiri people to evaluate the disadvantages as well as the benefits to the people of Jammu and Kashmir because of this article 370. The people of Jammu & Kashmir have the right to know about it. Everyman has the right to agree or disagree but giving arguments in favour or against it.
If Nawaz Sharif listens to the advice of the personalities mentioned in the article, war with India is not far away. Let's hope that Pak PM takes advice from some sane people and be discrete and not focus on contentious issues which cannot be solved.
India would split on the basis of religion once again and the Muslim population would converge to form another Pakistan. “The other religious minorities will have their separate homelands in what is today India,” he claimed Should work on preventing Pakistan from breaking up rather than wishful thinking of India being broken which will never happen.Just as article 370 wont be abrogated any time soon as wished by Mr. Raj above.
Modi's government has already started discussions on abrogating Article 370. Those thinking that BJP government does not have the votes to pass this law are in for big surprise. Just 3 months ago, they were predicting Congress led government in India but Modi won by landslide. My prediction is that when it comes to vote on abrogating Article 370, Modi's NDA will have the support of Jayalalithaa's AIDMK. Only opposition may be from Mamta Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Even Congress may vote with BJP's NDA when it sees that most of the country supporting BJP's NDA on abrogation of Article 370, as they would not like to be left on the wrong side of history. If not, at least there will be significant defections from Congress Party itself who shall be voting along with BJP's NDA.
A ragtag militant group with a budget of a few crores cant force a country's defense forces with a budget of 240000 crores to do anything
wishful thinking.