Pakistan

Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition: Army chief

General Raheel Sharif says Kashmir and Pakistan are inseparable

Our Correspondent June 03, 2015

PHOTO: ISPR

Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Wednesday Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition and is inseparable from Pakistan.

"Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition and Pakistan and Kashmir are inseparable," the army chief was quoted as saying by DG ISPR Asim Bajwa.

“While we wish peace and stability in the region, we want a just resolution for Kashmir in the light of UN resolutions and as per aspirations of Kashmiris to bring lasting peace in region,” the army chief added.

Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition,Pak &Kashmir are inseparable.While we wish peace, stability in region,we want Kashmir's...5/6
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 3, 2015

Just Resolution in the light of UN resolutions & as per aspirations of Kashmiris to bring lasting peace in region-6/6
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 3, 2015

Further, the army chief warned Pakistan will not allow any country to use proxies against it.

“Pakistan is opposed to using proxies in other countries and won't allow any countries to use proxies against Pakistan,” the army chief was quoted as saying by DG ISPR Asim Bajwa.

“We are fully determined and capable of defeating nefarious designs,” the army chief upheld.

Fully determined,capable of defeating nefarious designs.Pak opposed to use proxies vs other ctys,won't allow any cty to use proxies vs Pak-4
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 3, 2015

Echoing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement, General Raheel said the country’s enemies are supporting terrorism to destabilise it.

“Contours of future wars are fast changing. Our enemies are supporting terrorism to stoke sub-conventional conflicts and destabilise our country,” he said, while speaking at the National Defence University.

Contours of future wars fast changing.While our enemies supporting terrorism to stoke sub conventional conflicts&destabilise our country-3/6
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 3, 2015

Regarding the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in North Waziristan, General Raheel said, “Our noteworthy achievements in Operation Zarb-e-Azb have created space for decisive surge against terrorists in urban areas.”

COAS@NDU:Our noteworthy achievements in Op Z-eA have created space 4 decisive surge vs terrorists in urban areas-1/6 pic.twitter.com/cVQxL0iemO
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 3, 2015

Gen Raheel also stressed the need for enhanced civil-military coordination.

“Enhanced civil-military coordination has become even more critical to achieve a successful closure,” he added.

And an enhanced civ-mil Coord has become even more critical to achieve a successful closure-2/6 pic.twitter.com/k0ANTi3PDm
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) June 3, 2015

The army chief’s statement comes a day after the premier said the May 29 methodical slaying of 20-odd Pashtuns in the restive Mastung district was an abortive attempt by the ‘enemies of Pakistan’ to sow ethnic discord in Balochistan where hostile foreign agencies have been stoking violence to further their nefarious designs.

Read: Mastung massacre: Enemy wants to sow ethnic discord, says PM

“The enemy wants to sabotage the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. A neighbouring country has already voiced its reservations,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told an all-party conference (APC) at the Governor House in Quetta. The session was convened to devise a strategy to tackle internal and external security challenges in the volatile province.

COMMENTS (58)

T. A. Khan | 9 years ago | Reply My fellow dear citizen Mr. Raheel Sharif Sahib it is my humble advice to you to forget Kashmir because since 1947 Pakistan has made four attempts to capture Kashmir but all fired back and in 1971 Pakistan has lost its one arm i.e. East Pakistan.

Tony Singh | 9 years ago | Reply @Right: "Yes, you are right he looks worried cuz he is fed up with the Indian proxy war in Pakistan." You mean he does not like the taste of his own medicine?

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Tony Singh | 9 years ago | Reply In that case whole of Pakistan Punjab/Sindh and yes Baluchistan (which had its own Parliament which passed a resolution not to merge with Pakistan in 1948. Time for Pakistan to walk the talk.

Right | 9 years ago | Reply @ Virkaul Yes, you are right he looks worried cuz he is fed up with the Indian proxy war in Pakistan.

Muhammad Shoaib | 9 years ago | Reply @Abacus: Very good but remember the Resolution-80 and Resolution-91 were passed under Chapter-V and not Chapter-VII as written by you; meaning to say that these were not binding to be enforced by force but morally India is bound to abide by these. India has chosen a path of coercion upon Kashmiris and a path of confrontation with its neighbours. Look where is Sikkim now? What about Bhutan? However remember its confrontation with nuclear armed Pakistan will prove to be devastating in the history of humanity.You kept silent on Indian Constitution Article-368 and Article-370 which are a slap on the name of democracy. Your uncontrolled General openly said about sending terrorists into Pakistan and your generals have pleaded COLD STARK Doctrine aimed at capturing Pakistani territory. How insane are all these actions of Indian generals? Will Pakistan be sitting idle when such an action is materialized? No man, in such an eventuality, the world will witness the tragedy of human history and your generals will be blamed for it. So lets respect the sentiments of Kashmiri people through a plebiscite and being a democracy, such an action will really bring respect for the biggest democracy on the Plannet.

Virkaul | 9 years ago | Reply COAS looks worried from his expressions. Too much pressure from international quarters, after all stipend will come from there and not China.

Virkaul | 9 years ago | Reply @Proud Pakistani: Isn't this a weird logic assuming that "General is always right"?

Faizan Maqbool | 9 years ago | Reply @Hugh Slaman: And, as I have said time and time again, most of those "situations" cited by you have been precipitated by the myopic and misguided policies of the leaders ( read, military) in the first place. It has just become a vicious circle spiraling out of control justifying the need to have a huge military presence in perpetuity.

Faizan Maqbool | 9 years ago | Reply @Kam: Sure it has security issues but most of it is the result of its own doing, ranging from misguided polices in promoting a theocratic state and adventurism in Afghanistan to starting at least 3 major wars with India. Let's not kid ourselves, the debacle started almost from the get-go but its always a win-win situation for the armed forces since they are guaranteed the largest share of the annual budget come what may. A case in point are all these defence property schemes, which are basically get-rich quick rackets for you know who, but hardly benefits the country as a whole.

Hugh Slaman | 9 years ago | Reply @Shaikh Mohommad: Do you have a source for that? You should tell that to the Indians; they keep accusing us of sending infiltrators over to Indian Occupied Kashmir.

Shaikh Mohommad | 9 years ago | Reply People of Kashmir in Pakistan and abroad want to help their country to be liberated. The stumbling block is Pakistan Army which maintains a strict check on the border crossing i.e. it does not allow anyone in Azad Kashmir to go into Indian occupied Kashmir and help liberate it. Remember Occupied Palestine. Palestinians are not allowed to help their countrymen in occupied Gaza. Egyptian Government co-operates with Israel and Saudi Arabia turns a blind eye.

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply @powvow: Dont need saudis or other "muslim world". If anything they recently passed resolution on kashmir solution that india termed "completely unacceptable". As far as Kashmir goes, I have said it before and will say it again. If you feel its yours (India's) come and take it, bring body bags.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply Gilgit Baltistan is culturally, historically, racially, geographically and linguistically very distinct from Kashmir. Himalyas and karakuram divide them. There was never been any road which joins skardu with neither srinagar nor muzzaffarabad. All have to go through Pakistani Punjab. So economic corridor which passes through Gilgit has nothing to do with Kashmir dispute. If India think it is then come on table to talk about Kashmir. Period

Hugh Slaman | 9 years ago | Reply @Faizan Maqbool: If Pakistan were to win Kashmir, the Pakistan Army would still have to deal with Balochistan, the Karachi situation, the FATA situation, Indian troublemakers on the eastern side, Indian proxies based in Afghanistan, the rise of ISIS, requests from Arab allies for help in Yemen, and finally, the mother of all illegal occupations: the liberation of Bayt al-Muqaddas! Kashmir is not at all needed to keep the army in business, and in any case the Army is meant to be used as a last resort.

Finished Agenda | 9 years ago | Reply Unfinished agenda? The general reminds me of Emperor Nero who played the fiddle while Rome burned. This general, like all his predecessors, will gladly sell to gullible Pakistanis the idea that Pakistan is a jewel in the international arena and that he can bring India to its knees. Perhaps, he should also look out of the window to see what the world thinks of him and Pakistan. America disdains Pakistan and the people, China disdains them too but keeps smiling because it sees Pakistanis, in crude Marxist terminology, as "useful idiots" serving its strategic interests in India's backyard (The General and the politicians of Pakistan have zero interest in national development and merely want to engage in chest-thumping which can bring more sorrow to an impoverished and bankrupt country). As for the Muslim "brother states", they view Pakistan as a classic beggar case and will now not even touch the latter with a pole. Yes, with such unique attributes, Pakistan and the General can indeed finish the unfinished agenda.

Abacus | 9 years ago | Reply @Muhammad Shoaib: Nice try but no dice. The UN resolutions say what they say and were agreed to by both India and Pakistan. Do read the resolutions too, which specify the actions Pakistan had to undertake before the holding of plebiscite. It was only then that Pakistan realised what it had agreed to and refused to implement the resolutions. Being a resolution under Chapter VII, the UN could not enforce the resolution and thus started the deadlock. To break this deadlock, the UN appointed Owen Dixon, whose proposals were not agreed to by India. So, to summarise, it was Pakistan, who had explicitly agreed to the UN resolutions at first, who refused to implement them. Bringing in Owen Dixon is a red herring.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply Of late, as between military and civilian/political leaders, the distinction between who exactly is supposed to say or do what is becoming increasingly blurred. I wonder whether this is a good thing. Personally, I believe that civilian/political leaders were talkers while the military leaders were doers, and it was much better that way. This is because civilian/political leaders say many things without actually meaning them and people accept all that as part of (Pakistani style) politics. Like after saying harsh things about India earlier on, during a meeting with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, Nawaz Sharif said “Pakistan is keen to develop good relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality as well as mutual respect and interest”. Some readers may even remember Nawaz Sharif once saying words to the effect that Indians and Pakistanis were the same people with the same culture and he wondered as to how lines got drawn between the two. However, when a military leader says something, we take it much more seriously because we believe he actually means what he says. Taking the present case, when the army chief says that Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of partition, we would be entitled to expect him to complete the agenda, but will he? And if he actually set out to complete the agenda, and waged a war for the purpose, would that be a good thing, considering that we have already fought a few wars with India on this issue, but achieved nothing despite incurring heavy costs in men and material which a poor country like Pakistan could ill afford. We also have to remember that in order to get back thousands of our soldiers taken prisoner by India in former East Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had to agree to downgrade the Kashmir issue by making it a bilateral issue by signing the Simla accord according to which the Kashmir dispute could only b taken up at negotiations between India and Pakistan or at any other forum to which both the countries agreed. And this means that under the accord, we can not even take Kashmir to UN without first getting India to agree to it, which it obviously won’t. Anyway, the influential UN members are hardly keen to get Kashmir problem solved to the liking of Pakistan. And by the look of it, we do not seem to be much good at gaining more territory anyway, except Gwadar of course, which we bought from Sultanate of Muscat. In fact, in a mere twenty-four years, we managed to lose East Pakistan, which was more than half of Pakistan population-wise, and losing which was not even described by any Pakistani leader as unfinished agenda of partition. Karachi

Muhammad Shoaib | 9 years ago | Reply @Kushal: The United Nation had appointed Sir Owen Dixon as United Nations representative to assist in the preparation and to supervise the implementation of the program of demilitarization. He was to make suggestions, which could contribute to the expeditions and enduring solution of the dispute. Dixon proposed that the first step in demilitarization should consist in the with-drawl of Pakistan regular forces, commencing on the named day and after a significant number of days from the named day. Then the other operation on each side of the cease fire line should take place and as far as practicable, concurrently. Pakistan accepted this proposal but India rejected it. - In fact it was India which refused to implement these resolutions and the fact remains that the small number of Indian troops were to placed under command of Sir Owen Dixon and these troops would have responsible for maintaining law & order situation acting on the command of Sir Owen Dixon. Please keep it in mind that Indian Constitution Article-368 and Article-370 coupled with Indian held Jammu & Kashmir constitution Article-147 can't replace the UN resolutions while Kashmir is geographically, demographically and culturally more linked with Pakistan than India. Just see the Road linkages between Pakistan and Kashmir as compared to the only NH1A road link of India with Kashmir through Gurdaspur which was supposed to be part of Pakistan. Hence; it can be easily concluded that as per the Sub-Continent Partition formula, Kashmir is an integral and natural part of Pakistan.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply @ Faizan Your rhetoric of 90s era has proven wrong. If you think that Pakistan has no security issues and Kashmir is an excuse after all this happened here in last 10 years then I think you are Alice in wonderland.

Nero | 9 years ago | Reply @Patriot: Did even read what you proudly posted? Ans then there are people congratulating you for posting it, again without reading it. Seriously, Pakistanis are correct when they say "God help Pakistan". Because no one else can!

Faizan Maqbool | 9 years ago | Reply @harkol: I am tempted to say that perpetuating the Kashmir question and its resolution is the raison d'etre of the largest employer in Pakistan, namely: the Army. They know jolly well that its never going to be resolved on the terms they publicly declare. But, at least, it justifies their existence and a whopping great piece of the annual budget pie. However, perhaps more important than any perceived prestige in acquiring the whole of Kashmir, is the water issue and having control of the primary sources of the Indus River..

Kushal | 9 years ago | Reply @Patriot: Do you even read what you refer? Or you want us to do that for you too? It clearly says that Pakistan should withdraw its tribesman and Pak nationals who have entered the state for the purpose of fighting and not resident therein, and to prevent any incursion and into the State and any furnishing of material aid. WHEN IT IS ESTABLISHED TO THE SATISFACTION OF COMMISSION that tribesmen are withdrawn ....India should withdraw its forces ... to minimum strength for the support of civil power and maintenance of law and order.

hamza khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Patriot: well done. indians are misguided, foolish, arrogant.

Patriot | 9 years ago | Reply To all Indians who think the UN resolution is asking only Pakistan to demilitarize the area Link to UN resolution: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmogip/documents.shtml Download and read. This shows how misguided Indians are by their media.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply Thousands have died in India due to heat. Indians should open their doors to provide shelter to their poor rather coming here to show their hatred and discontent.

Proud Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @wb: soon you will get your answer time is not far off crying india babies

liaqat ali | 9 years ago | Reply @Prakash: Please correct your facts. Both India and Pakistan were supposed to vacate Kashmir and hand it over to UN .India accpeted it in principle or otherwise mujahideen were ready to run over Srinagaer . Pakistan has been offerringthe UN mandated withdrawal since that time but India backed away from it slowly and steadily as the time passed. And then somehow it became integral part of India .Both sides rather three sides need to back away from wars and resolve it in line with ambition of Kashmiris. If they want independence from both , so be it . if they want to live with Indai or pakistan , they should accpet it .

Such Baat | 9 years ago | Reply To All Indian Trolls, How come a nation having no access to clean drinking water and sanitation and housing world largest hungry people on earth talk so big...??? But thats what can be expected from a nation following the doctrine of "chanakya Kautilya"!!! A rapist nation that only knows deceit, deception and lies....Period.

Appan | 9 years ago | Reply The Pakistan Government is unable to control its Talibans and the likes. Mullas and Maulvis keep poisoning the minds of youngsters. So The best way For the General is to divert the attention of the public GOD save the country.

Sad but true | 9 years ago | Reply @Paki: Thank you for your clarification. Democracy is a sham in Pakistan.

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @raw is war: and so is Hyderabad! Double that period.

Tyggar | 9 years ago | Reply Looks like he is getting ready to take over.

aam shehri | 9 years ago | Reply @wb, how much mature you are, your comment tells all, grow up man!!

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply What General meant that India has been very ungateful for relative peace in Indian Kashmir for a decade that may not continue for long.

Paki | 9 years ago | Reply @Sad but true: believe in COAS. Period. @raw is war: Kashmir, Siachen, Khalistan, asaam etc and so many more too. @Gurion: agenda will be finished after Ghazwae-Hind @Kushal: considering the statements from your ministers, do you still feel like commenting on Proxy wars etc. its triple standards(not double ones).

Dan | 9 years ago | Reply @Kushal: LMAO buddy.. you made my day.. Cheers!!! @raw is war: Indeed & very soon Balochistan will be free.

matif.dcs | 9 years ago | Reply @wb: So you want Pak Army to nuke India?? Yes we all know who is behind all this but yet we dont want any confrontation since that will lead to nuclear war!!

Prakash | 9 years ago | Reply Anyone who harps on the UN resolution should first read it. The UN resolution holds Pakistan the aggressor. Pakistan was asked to withdraw its infiltrators and handover area to India to conduct Plebiscite. Unless Pakistan does so, its claim on Kashmir is not recognized by UN. The only way for Pakistan to establish its claim is to create the conditions conducive to conducting Plebiscite, and let India conduct Plebiscite. Since Pakistan has not met the conditions, its claim is forsook. Therefore it is very clear that Pakistan has no claim on Kashmir, and in fact is in illegal occupation of POK since 1947.

Shehryar | 9 years ago | Reply @wb: Infact they do Just look around yourself

SKChadha | 9 years ago | Reply Does he mean that both will finish together Kashmir Agenda and Pakistan ... ??

wb | 9 years ago | Reply @Proud Pakistani: "Everybody know who is behind" A simple question with common sense. If everybody knows who is behind terrorism in Pakistan, why is your army and ISI failing every day to stop them? Seriously, humans don't get stupider than Pakistanis.

raw is war | 9 years ago | Reply Baluchistan is an unfinished agenda of partition. Period.

Hassan Shah | 9 years ago | Reply Insha Allah !

Sad but true | 9 years ago | Reply Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs said GOP supports good Taliban but COAS says otherwise. Who to believe? Who is running Pakistan?

Kushal | 9 years ago | Reply "Pakistan is opposed to using proxies in other countries"---- Greatest joke on earth. "won’t allow any countries to use proxies against Pakistan" --- Even greater.

Javed Hussain | 9 years ago | Reply @Pak patriot: He's not responsible for such incidents. Law and order is the sole responsibility of the government.

Gurion | 9 years ago | Reply The "agenda of partition" was settled in 1971

Abdul Malik | 9 years ago | Reply @Ehtisham: And this war will be won by the ones with deeper pockets.

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @powvow--- and if pak would have joined saudis for their internal issues then too you would have objected pak policy by interfering in others' matters and renting its soldiers for dollars or saudi Riyal..so please leave this double standard.

harkol | 9 years ago | Reply He is right. It is an unfinished agenda. But, it is not possible to finish it either. Pakistan or India can't at present change the status-quo. That is reality, that India is willing to accept and settle for LOC as border. But Pakistan wants a change in status-quo. So, Pakistan's has a choice of reconciling with it or try very hard and lose it's peace & growth.

Ehtisham | 9 years ago | Reply In reality India and Pakistan are heading towards a proxy war in Afghanistan at a time when NATO combat forces are ready to depart. Afghanistan’s new president Ashraf Ghani has already issued a warning of this future prospect. In this scenario, matured and unimpeded Indian influence in Afghanistan is a mounting threat for Pakistan. India wants to establish resilient anti-Pakistan sentiments in Afghanistan.

powvow | 9 years ago | Reply @rahul - "Looks like plea to US,UN, Muslim world dint work .. is it ??" Plea to Muslim world??? After betraying the fellow Muslim Saudis, they have no face to put their pleas before the Muslim world

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply From when?

Proud Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @Pak patriot: Everybody know who is behind and that's what Gen is talking about so no need for stupid comments like - "These are just rhetorics. He should first explain why the incidents like APC peshawar, Safoora, Mastung etc. keep happening in pakistan ?" - of yours

rahul | 9 years ago | Reply Looks like plea to US,UN, Muslim world dint work .. is it ??

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply You are the savior General Raheel. We all are with you.

Pak patriot | 9 years ago | Reply These are just rhetorics. He should first explain why the incidents like APC peshawar, Safoora, Mastung etc. keep happening in pakistan ?

Wijdan | 9 years ago | Reply Hats-off for the brave soldiers,

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