Pakistan

Pakistan has lost international support on Kashmir: Husain Haqqani

Pakistani hardliners are stuck to unrealistic 'Kashmir first' mantra, says former diplomat

Web Desk September 04, 2015

pakistan 039 s former ambassador to the us hussain haqqani photo ndtv

Pakistan's former Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani. PHOTO: NDTV

Pakistan no longer enjoys international support when it comes to Kashmir, a former Pakistani envoy to the United States said on Friday, Press Trust of India reported.

"Kashmir is an emotive issue in Pakistan because of the failure of its leaders to inform their people that Pakistan no longer enjoys international support on the matter," said Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador to the US.

Read: India rejects Pakistan's call for plebiscite in Indian Kashmir

According to Haqqani, who is currently the director of South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute, India refuses to discuss the Kashmir issue without the end of Pakistan-sponsored terror.

Whereas, he said, Pakistan for years has been trapped on its stance on the Kashmir issue, thus overlooking other crucial matters. "Pakistan has sought international support countless times for its position that Kashmir's future must be resolved through dialogue with India."

Read: No talks with India without Kashmir on agenda: Aziz

"Instead of accepting that it might be better for India and Pakistan to normalise relations by expanding trade and cross-border travel, Pakistani hardliners have stuck to a 'Kashmir first' mantra, which they know is unrealistic," Haqqani reiterated.

Further, he expressed his belief that remaining adamant on Kashmir is futile and will only get Pakistan support from its military.

This article originally appeared on NDTV

COMMENTS (47)

Reddy | 9 years ago | Reply One of the more saner and moderate but least heard voices in Pakistan. Well, Haqqani is no more in Pakistan anyway.

Swetab | 9 years ago | Reply @Waqas Sheikh: not an inch of india will separate from india

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sara jahan hamara | 9 years ago | Reply I wonder why Indians so bothered to comment on pak news when they are years ahead off Pak. Just look at mistakes in syllabus in India bbc report ....they are just ahead of us indeed

gourav | 9 years ago | Reply @shank: india is already a top economy n pakistan was declared as a failed state by un hahaha

Allah Rukha | 9 years ago | Reply @Bairooni Haath: No Mr. Haqqani is credible source of information in West only when the anchor/presenter harbors anti-Pakistan feelings.

Allah Rukha | 9 years ago | Reply @Bairooni Haath: Dear you need history lessons. Mr. Haqqani started his political activities from Jamaat-e-Islami. Offcourse he later became part of Zardari party.

IndiaDude | 9 years ago | Reply @Saqib ali, Dude, your wishful thinking is far fetched. There is a huge disparity in growth and development between the two countries. If you close your eyes to India’s development in the last 50 years, you are fooling yourself. You are like the proverbial cat drinking milk with its eyes closed. The entire world acknowledges India's tremendous growth & not for nothing it is touted as the next big thing in world economy. Now, compare yourself to that, you are still begging for loans to even run the country & meet the daily expenses. That’s a far cry.

sunilsm | 9 years ago | Reply Wow some sane words from a Haqqani brothers? He must be a bad Haqqani.

Mohammad | 9 years ago | Reply Haqqani got no plans to come back!!

Ahmed Ali khan | 9 years ago | Reply Kashmir is an unfinished business of partition, until it resolves it will be a thorn in the Indian politics. Kashmiri should be given a choice where want to belong.

Ahmed Ali khan | 9 years ago | Reply @z: It is not Hussain Haqqani talking it is India's money that is talking. This kind of character only understand money. He is a bikao maal.

Al fidayi | 9 years ago | Reply As much as I agree with Indian position on Kashmir, I will only ask my Pakistani friends if they see any realistic chance of wresting Kashmir from India tomorrow or in next 100 years. The answer to me is obvious.If you do, gladly go ahead with your efforts. If you don't, you must be smart enough as a sovereign nation to realize these shenanigans that you are involved in are though a thorn in India's side but are only hurting your citizenry the most.

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply @Dr.A.K.Tewari: As long as there are Kashmiris, there will be a Kashmir issue. Haqqani obviously has his own agenda which is ingratiating himself with the Indian lobby in the US but that does not change facts. In today's world, no one will keep Tibet occupied forever, no one will keep Kashmir occupied forever or any other place occupied forever as long as the majority of people do not want to be under foreign rule. India and Haqqani may be playing some game but the fundamental moral argument remains on the side of Kashmiris and Pakistan. That won't change with the passage of no amount of time. People like my Kashmiri grandmother never accepted themselves as Indian and don't care what Haqqani has said and how much money he gets to say what he says.

Bairooni Haath | 9 years ago | Reply @Allah Rukha: Mr. Husain Haqqani was associated with PPP not Jamaat-e-Islami, you are confusing him with some other Haqqani.

globalobserver | 9 years ago | Reply @Dr. A.K.Tewari: "Kashmir is no more an issue ." Not true. Pakistan occupies a very large portion of Kashmir/GB/Northern Areas that belongs to India. Until these areas are reunited with India, Kashmir will be an issue.

Allah Rukha | 9 years ago | Reply Nothing good has ever come out of Jamaat-e-Islami and Mr. Haqqani is one of its fruits.

Bahadurkhan | 9 years ago | Reply Mushraf had got it right. Give pakistan the power ( energy) from hydro projects in indian side, slowly the demand for water will decrease in pakistan. Start the trade/exchange of apples, apricot, saffron, in those days, plus onions and porators, now a days. The Janta is Hapy with money , satisfied public is less vocal on both sides. He also allowed the bus service like delhi lahore. Unfortunately the punjabi rulers don't like or want muhajirs. Possibly because of their administrative capability. Starting from liaquat ali , all were finished. Now it is hussain haqqani, mom, the list goes on. While cleaning up karachi is the outside goal, finishing mom, muhajirs is the hidden goal. I am only waiting when dawood Ibrahim wakes up from this double game.

Dr.A.K.Tewari | 9 years ago | Reply No one in the world will recognise Kashmir as a new nation except few . Let both Kashmir as an autonomous state of India . That is the only possible way out . Terrorism has to eliminated completely to ensure peace in the region and we will realiZe it .

Dr. A.K.Tewari | 9 years ago | Reply Kashmir is no more an issue . If Pakistan will keep it alive then she will perish on her own . Hqqani has suggested it based on present ground realities .

Abo Rijni | 9 years ago | Reply @Abdullah: I understand why you and other anti-Haqqani readers are venting here. You guys hate intellectual pursuits and truth itself. Consider this fact: While Pakistan was created for ALL Indian Muslims, half of them stayed behind in India even though Pakistan (Western portion) got the land to house those Indian Muslims who did not move. Your Kashmir-love is just that - a greediness for the land to which Indfian Muslims who stayed behind have as much claim. You and your leaders broke India, poisoned the well of communal harmony, and have yet to apologise and pay reparations to India and its Muslims.

Bairooni Haath | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Husain Haqqani has more credibility in the west than any Pakistani diplomat or analyst. When an event happens in Pakistan, the foreign news channels seek him rather than Pakistan's diplomats to appear and give his opinion and analysis. Mr. Haqqani has earned the trust of the foreign media because he tells it like it is in an open, honest and direct way. Pakistan would do well to listen to his advice.

Javed Shah | 9 years ago | Reply The Architect of the plebiscite resolution on Kashmir was none other than Nehru. He dispatched Sheikh Abdullah to Pakistan to start a dialogue on Kashmir. When the Kashmiri leader was staying at Mian Iftiqharuddin's (Nehru's childhood friend) house in GOR Lahore Indian PM passed away in Delhi culminating Abdullah's mission. Operation Gibraltar was launched across the ceasefire line in Kashmir by Pakistan's military dictator Ayub Khanleading to the six day war in 65.

Anjaan | 9 years ago | Reply Foreign Policy Magazine in the US has published the article ... not Press Trust of India as mischievously mentioned in the headlines ... !!

Shehryar | 9 years ago | Reply He is saying this just to sound "different" and stay employed. He has no say or respect here in the United States.

Azmat Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Despite my utter lack of respect from Mr. Haqqani, what he says is true. Pakistan has failed to maintain any momentum on the issue of Kashmir and it is absolutely a lost cause today. No other nation of any value is invested in this matter. The only solution is Kashmir's independence, as much from Pakistan, as from India. Let those folks live in peace, in a land they can govern on their own. Both India and Pakistan can benefit from such an independent Kashmir (including the current Azaad Kashmir). It will mean the primary bone of contention between Pakistan and India will be gone forever. It will mean that they can dramatically reduce expenditure on their armed forces and redirect them towards education and health (and even toilets) for nearly a billion people of this planet.

shank | 9 years ago | Reply @saqib ali, India and pakistan are equal in economic terms, stop ,you are very funny.

Akshay | 9 years ago | Reply Right said Mr Haqqani that's why the US saw value in a rational and balanced person like you and offered you it's protection .. The truth is in front of Pakistan, No country in the world supports Pakistan on the Kashmir issue including the so called the uma and the all weather friend... Name me one country. There is none. And let me tell you India is 50 years ahead of Pakistan. Indias economy is not hanging from the thread dependant on coalition support fund and IMF bailouts. No harm in acknowledging the truth my PAKISTANI friends.

Ahsan Kayani | 9 years ago | Reply The persons from Indian side are also vocal for Indian held Kashmiris legal rights, but who cares. What we can say about Haqqani, who was advocating highly for Kashmir till he was ambassador. Now he will speak for people who are feeding him. Such a cheap mentality. India no doubt yet dont need Pakistan for its economic progress, but it will be limited and some stage stagnant without Pakistan.

3rdRockFromTheSun | 9 years ago | Reply Why are people blaming him. He is just the messenger - and the message is right. The rest of the world does not support Pakistan's position on Kashmir.

Salim Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Those who live outside Pakistan, knows the truth. That is why India does not want to talk about Kashmir and can dictate terms to Pakistan because the International committee is with India.

Basharat Malik | 9 years ago | Reply No wonder,he ran from Pakistan. Our country has no place for traitors like him. PPP should feel ashamed of appointing an anti state person like him as Ambassador to US

Whiskey Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Haqani, You have lost the right to speak on Pakistan politics since you decided to side with the Traitors and ran away to US.

Saqib Ali | 9 years ago | Reply @Vicky: Dude, that is a far fetched comparison. There might be some disparity in growth and development for the last 5 to 10 years but in no way is India 50 years ahead of Pakistan nor will it ever be so, which is the the case with North and South Korea. Sure, India has been making good progress while Pakistan has seen slower progress but in terms of HDI and Gini and Per capita income then both countries are more or less at the same position. So please stop day dreaming :)

Waqas Sheikh | 9 years ago | Reply The statement of Mr. Haqqani is obviously flawed, the issue of Kashmir is of volatile nature, the relationship between India and Pakistan can never normalize before solving the issue first, we would be living in fools' paradise to think that we can normalize relations by expanding trade relations between the two countries. Why is India is so reluctant to discuss the issue with Pakistan, it is India who is stretching this issue and doesn't want this to be resolved. The forum of UN is always available but it is India who is not willing to sit on a table to discuss this issue.

indo | 9 years ago | Reply I have read his books and listened to his economic policies and political thinking. he deserves respect. If a man of such stature is denied entry into Pakistan and a man like Hafeez Syed is let go free, then God save Pakistan and its unrealistic and illogical ideologies. Any aqusitions against Husain are baseless especially if spoken truth about Army to mend ways for betterment.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply Hussain Haqqani........another reason Asif Zardari needs to be thrown behind bars.

Abdullah | 9 years ago | Reply I am ignoring you Mr Haqqani...

Fahim | 9 years ago | Reply A award should be given to Zardari and PPP for such appointments

Vicky | 9 years ago | Reply it’s upto Pakistan, if it keeps controversial disputes on back side and move ahead to improve business n trade with India, then it’d be Good, otherwise India is progressing well without having relations with Pakistan and continues to progress just like South Korea progressed without North Korea

Rohit | 9 years ago | Reply I think Pakistan should break all ties with India till Kashmir issue get resolved.... I wonder why Pakistanis don't care Kashmiris...if they really care Kashmiris, then they should stop asking for medical visas, cricket series, work in Bollywood till Kashmir issue get resolved

hamza | 9 years ago | Reply says the person who orchestrated the master plan to make Pakistan to accede to USA and become the 51st state, with the destruction of Pakistan Defense institutions.such poison spewing people are responsible for the doom this human civilization is facing.

Paki | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Haqqani, Like you have lost respect in pakistan and sold it to US.

faiz | 9 years ago | Reply Along with corruption and insecurity, Hussain Haqqani is the third gift of PPP. And nobody takes serious the remaining of corrupt party.

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply Another patriotic person for Indians who deserves Bharat Ratna for speaking against Pakistan.

z | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Haqqani, why don't you come back to Pakistan to give such statements?

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply Coming from a person that ran off to US. What a coward. No one in Pakistan takes him serious. But yet again if we take it for a min that Pak did lose international support for kashmir, India should just come in and take it. Lets see how many of them die before they can understand it was a mistake.

abdul rahim | 9 years ago | Reply the patriot has spoken. three cheers for him.when will he be awarded with bharat ratna or like wise.

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