Pakistan

Resolution of Kashmir issue must for regional peace: army chief

General Raheel Sharif terms Kashmir an unfinished agenda, urges international community to help resolve the dispute

Web Desk October 02, 2015

PHOTO: ISPR

A day after India rejected Pakistan’s four-point peace roadmap, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif urged world powers to help resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute for peace in South Asia.

“Kashmir is an unfinished agenda. World must help in resolving the Kashmir issue if [it] want[s] genuine peace in region,” said the army chief while addressing a seminar at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, according to the ISPR.

Kashmir an unfinished http://t.co/sXYvvM5YgH must help in resolving Kashmir Issue if want genuine peace in region-5 pic.twitter.com/mV4gfVwK0a
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 2, 2015

General Raheel said Pakistan’s disputes with India resided with Kashmir, and the continuing ceasefire violations and indirect strategy against Pakistan was affecting the country negatively.

Indian intransigence,LOC violations&indirect strategy vs Pak negatively affecting the region.Our disputes reside in Kashmir Issue-4
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 2, 2015

The COAS said Pakistan supports the Afghan peace process, adding that one should be aware of detractors as reconciliation was the only way forward.

While we continue 2 support enduring&permanent peace in Afgn.Lets all beware of detractors &spoilers.Recon way fwd,everyone 2 support-2
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 2, 2015

He added that Pakistan had brotherly ties with Afghanistan and greater international cooperation was must for regional peace.

With people of Afgn our relations brotherly&blood ties.Border mngmt&greater int coop must for regional peace.Anti Pak propaganda must end-3
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 2, 2015

Read: Ghani says Pak-Afghan ties not brotherly

“Anti Pakistan propaganda must end,” he added.

Earlier on Thursday, General Raheel made it clear that Pakistan was against proxies and would not allow them to operate from its soil, rejecting Afghan president’s claim in which he had linked the country with terrorists’ sanctuaries and support networks.

Army chief meets British Home Secretary

Meanwhile, the army chief met British permanent Home Secretary and urged that the country play its part in checking international financing and communication of terrorists.

#COAS met UK's permanent Home Secretary.Asks UK to play role in checking intl financing&communication of terrorists
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 2, 2015

He also visited the third UK armed division in the field and witnessed their training.

#COAS visited 3rd UK Armd Div in the field and saw their training.UK CGS,Gen Nicholas Carter was present pic.twitter.com/AylfiW03pI
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 2, 2015

COMMENTS (43)

Muhammad | 8 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmi: Kashmir has been a long term issue and will remain unresolvable in the foreseeable future thanks to UN failure, stalemated wars and Indian refusal to show any interest in bilateral dialogue. This does not mean the state and people of Pakistan should give up their stand and disappoint Kashmiri people with our inability to help their freedom movement or give impression we are not honouring our promise. One important reason for failure to see any result on Kashmir is the fact that Pakistan is being weakened from inside. There are political parties who instead of giving back something to Pakistan are producing a clone of traitors who have been found to have connections with the Indian RAW and who will be happy seeing any damage done to the country. They often make references to BanglaDesh threatening to carve a separate territory. It is such elements who need to be tackled first before Pakistan can take on external threat. These traitors have also managed to mislead a section of innocent and loyal Pakistanis but happily things are changing and people are beginning to discover reality and understand agenda of these pseudo leaders. Kashmir option can not be changed. Giving up will do us more harm than getting the problem sorted as soon as possible. Those who think we should put aside our issues and improve our economy first are naive or cowards who simply wish to have an excuse to skirt challenges . Once Pakistan becomes internally strong it could handle Indian threat far more effectively and make progress on issues which have held us back. (Karachi)

VINOD | 8 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmi: Dear Sir, I sincerely appreciate your objective analysis of the present situation on Kashmir. How ever I have never been clear about Pakistan's stand. What do they want? What is this unfinished agenda? An independent and sovereign Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh OR independent and sovereign Kashmir valley only OR the entire J&K, Ladakh as part of Pakistan OR only Kashmir valley as part of Pakistan OR the J&K divided between India and Pakistan. If Pakistan wants entire J&K as part of Pakistan then what is the point of negotiation or talks. It is no negotiation it is a demand and then what are the stakes or Kashmiris or value of their opinion? So let us be very clear as to what is this UNFINISHED AGENDA? As far as India is concerned there is no ambiguity. From day one the stand of India is that as per the framework of partition the states had to decide their future and KASHMIR decided its future by signing the article of annexation with union of India. So what to negotiate? Let us live happily and this madness must stop for peace and progress of future generations. Some one please explain the AGENDA.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply Addressing a seminar at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif asked world powers to help resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute for peace in South Asia. The army chief further said “Kashmir is an unfinished agenda (of 1947 partition). World must help in resolving the Kashmir issue if it wants genuine peace in region” Unfortunately, with new problems coming up all the time, the world powers are no longer interested in the old Kashmir issue, more so because the old UN resolution has been superseded by the Simla agreement made in 1972 whereby Zulfikar Ali Bhutto agreed to make Kashmir a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, as a price for securing the release of 93,000 Pakistanis, mostly soldiers, taken prisoner by India. And in addition to major world powers, we have lost support even among our traditional allies who did not take kindly to our refusal to help them out on Yemen. Also, Nawaz Sharif recent four points - a formalisation of the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir, a reaffirmation that neither country will be the first to use force, the demilitarisation of Kashmir and fourthly, a mutual withdrawal from the Siachen glacier battlefield – also rule out any possibility of our snatching occupied Kashmir from India, which option we did try in 1965, and failed. It is also unlikely that out of the goodness of its heart, India will free Kashmir or allow it to join us. Obviously, all this sets very limited margins within which any improvement can come about in Kashmir. And by suggesting ‘formalisation of the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir, a reaffirmation that neither country will be the first to use force, Nawaz Sharif has clearly stated that Pakistan’s support to the Kashmiris will remain limited to making some noises locally and at international levels, which are unlikely to persuade or pressure India. And without any ‘material’ support from Pakistan, Kashmiris are unlikely to be able to free themselves from ‘clutches’ of India through their indigenous uprising. It is therefore definitely time for our leaders to make an honest and frank statement instead of giving Kashmris false hopes, thus encouraging if not inciting them to take a hard line with India, inviting its wrath and thus removing even the possibility of any betterment in their living conditions which India could perhaps be willing to offer them if it was assured of no indigenous or foreign-aided uprising. And like us, China also has territorial disputes with India but China does not let these influence mutual relations. Perhaps Pakistan should adopt the same approach with India, starting with relatively simpler confidence-building measures and as the relations improve and a situation of trust develops, or at least a situation of complete and utter distrust is removed, it may perhaps be possible to move on to trickier issues. But of course all this would require being honest with ourselves as well as with others instead of needless and useless posturing which presently serves as our Kashmir policy. Karachi.

Muhammad | 8 years ago | Reply @Hari Om: Your thought process needs some correction. COAS's message is clear but it seems you are listening it from your stuffy hole without fresh air. He meant IOK should belong to Pakistan. And he is not wrong when he says we have brotherly relations with people of Afghanistan. President Ghani is under lot of pressures from various lobbies(Indians being one) and often changes his statements. Let me tell you no matter what you guys think and what even the afghan government thinks the world has recognised Pakistan's role without which Afghanistan will find it difficult to achieve peace. Pakistan may no longer be seen brotherly but India has been successfully kicked out of the region and we on our part continue to feel brotherly towards Afghans.

Muhammad | 8 years ago | Reply @Virkaul: Referendum is a much easier and logical way of sorting this decades old problem rather than trying to dig into why Pakistan managed to establish its writ while Indians were working on a malicious agenda. Rules and spirit of Partition were violated by India using coercive methods and that is what we have been fighting against and will continue to do. India does not recognise UN resolutions so there is no point me looking at any high resolution UN scans. Why India is afraid of a referendum if it thinks Pakistani flag waving is no Indication of people's wish to join Kashmir.

Bobb Mack | 8 years ago | Reply @Prada: You are locked into foolishness. Pakistan has shown a high degree of resilience and endured all kinds of pressures since Partition. That has only hardened us. Do you think after decades of some horrowing challenges, and even having lost half of our country to a malicious enemy, we are going to change our stand. Big No! No doubt we are going through difficult phase but we know one day we will have to relocate you if not drowning you into the Indian Ocean or Bay of Bengal. India, given the right level of tension, will not survive as well and as long as Pakistan has. Despite being 7 times larger than Pakistan you have not been able to neutralise us. And your new leadership under the command of a juggler is unlikely to achieve that too. On the other hand you should not forget that one more militancy like Khalistan movement in India and you could loose a lot. Imagine Pakistan doing the same what India did to Pakistan in 1971.

Afzal | 8 years ago | Reply @Priyank: And have you not noticed the other flag that is waved every now and then...green flag you can not mistake. Sooner or latter that flag is bound to become permanent Kashmir ID. By dragging your feet you will only loose your feet which we do not want happening to you. We want you to discuss with us in a civilised manner and come to a logical conclusion without ranting and raving!

Afzal | 8 years ago | Reply @ajeet: That can not happen. Our genes are everywhere, not even many of you be sure of your own true ID! So vacating will be impracticable! Think of something else my friend.

jay | 8 years ago | Reply If Muslim majority and the two nation theory is the reason why kashmir issue should be resolved first then two nation theory would mean all Muslims should be going to Pakistan. Are Pakistanis and more importantly Indian Muslims prepared to accept or move to Pakistan? If not then do not harp about kashmir.. there are many kinds of people there.. majority by area are Buddhist.. are Pakistani Muslims going to destroy their culture as they have done with other religions in the past? Then there should not be any discussion on kashmir at all

Hari Om | 8 years ago | Reply 400% agree with Pakistani COAS, General Raheel Sharif. Jammu & Kashmir is unfinished agenda that needs to be resolved by Punjabi dominated Military of Pakistan forthwith vacating and handing over Pakistan Occupied J&K to India. OTOH 400% disagree with ISPR head General Asim Bajwa. Pakistan and Afghanistan do not have brotherly relations. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is on record saying as much per article by Express Tribune: http://tribune.com.pk/story/964171/ghani-says-pak-afghan-ties-not-brotherly/

Virkaul | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26: Is "Azad Kashmir" really Azad? It is a big question often asked by kashmiris on the Pakistani side of the border. Where a CM reports to DC of Pindi or Islambad. Where the constitution is drafted and comes pre written from Islamabad and that too only a few years back. Where the CM openly swears subservience to the PPP chief. Where there was no university until 1982 and no medical college until 2012. Where CM of POK cannot travel to GB without permission of Pindi or Islamabad. Sure, it is really AZAD.

Harei Om | 8 years ago | Reply 400% agree with Pakistani COAS, General Raheel Sharif. Jammu & Kashmir is unfinished agenda that needs to be resolved by Punjabi dominated Military of Pakistan forthwith vacating and handing over Pakistan Occupied J&K to India. OTOH 400% disagree with ISPR head General Asim Bajwa. Pakistan and Afghanistan do not have brotherly relations. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is on record saying as much per article by Express Tribune: http://tribune.com.pk/story/964171/ghani-says-pak-afghan-ties-not-brotherly/

Virkaul | 8 years ago | Reply @Afzal: It appears you have not read United Nations resolution dated 13 August 1948 thoroughly where it clearly states that the action of Pakistan (raiding and occupying Kashmir) constitutes "material" change in situation and hence Pakistan must vacate all territory it occupied forcibly. My suggestion is that scan through the resolutions that you harp on so often.

Salim Khan | 8 years ago | Reply We can shout as much as we want. Its the Indians who will decide when and what would be that solution.

Sk Maqbool basha | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26: - There is a place called Azad Kashmir (English translation is Independent Kashmir) and its capital is Muzzaffrabad." - hellow; If it is really Azad Kashmir, why Pakistan has not appointed its ambassador there. Has any country recognized it as an independent and posted its ambassador. Stop these dramas. Pakistan occupied Kashmir by force and Balochistan by cheating.

Prada | 8 years ago | Reply India can easily survive and afford the ill-effects of this tension forever. Can Pakistan say the same?

Zen | 8 years ago | Reply @Afzal: How many troops does Pakistan have in POK? What is the number do you think is the right number?

Thakur | 8 years ago | Reply It is easy to resolve. Just vacate Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and we will have peace in no time at all.

someone | 8 years ago | Reply Well I think this is a serious ploy to divert Ordinary Pakistani citizen's attention from other issue plaguing Pakistan like in house terrorism, load shedding, unemployment, poverty, gas shortage, illiteracy etc. The Pakistanis need to decide whether they want to remain hostage to Kashmir issue and sacrifice coming generations to this or rise against this vicious power struggle circle between the army and civilian government and demand the betterment for themselves. Just for the information for the Pakistanis, the ordinary Kashmiri in India has much better life than ordinary Pakistani.

VINOD | 8 years ago | Reply Kashmir may be an AGENDA for Pakistan to be annexed by any means including surreptitious war. It may be an unfinished AGENDA to be completed at any cost. But for India it is a part of our motherland and not an AGENDA. It is living, thriving and HOME where millions of humans live and we are committed to their safety, health, education and happiness as of entire India. For completion of some weird AGENDA we do not barter our mother land with China.

Brar | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26: Azad Kashmir is there any country in this world who is not having her currency, who is ruled by lent officers from Pakistan, if Azad Kashmir is so azad then what is the role of Pakistan, AZK willtalk to India and solve the problem but they can not do that because they are under Pakistan occupation.

Javelin | 8 years ago | Reply .....Vacate POK first and then insist for UN resolution of J&K. World will surely then listen to Pakistan........ You forgot about getting back a large chunk of disputed Kashmir ceded to iron brother China!

Mahen | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26 lolz at your knowledge. "T Hahaha Independent? Who is the PM and which country in the world recognizes Azad Kashmir? Pity at your knowledge and I can only feel sorry for you. Time to wake up to the real world

ajeet | 8 years ago | Reply Whose land should be given to whom? Vacate,Pakistan and go back to turkey and Arabia.

TiffinBox | 8 years ago | Reply @Name Not Required Comments Too Not Required.

Bairooni Haath | 8 years ago | Reply Why does Pakistan COAS comment on foreign policy, did you ever hear Indian COAS comment on FP?

realist | 8 years ago | Reply Today an indian minister said Pakistan cannot take Kashmir by force and India is not going to give Kashmir ever. This matter will never be solved.

LOLzzzz | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26 LOL. Just because you name it "Azad" or whatever, it doesn't become "independent". It is Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, just like IoK. I am from PoK by the way.

Tommy Gunn | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26: calling a place "Azad" does not make it independent just as calling North Korea "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" makes it Democratic. BTW, your govt has converted most of so called azad kashmir into gilgit baltistan & gifted a part of it to china arbitrarily.

Priyank | 8 years ago | Reply @citizen26 : Jammu & Kashmir also has a parliament, flag and capital Srinagar.

LS | 8 years ago | Reply @Adeel: There is no stubbornness. There is nothing to talk about. We just want Pakistan to vacate the territory as mentioned in the first step of UN resolution if you still care about it. If you don't then don't talk about Kashmir. Pakistan has no stake in Kashmir. None. We are happy with status quo even though you have occupied the territory that does not belong to you.

ABCD | 8 years ago | Reply @Afzal :Read UN resolutions first and then make your comment. UN resolutions says that Pakistan has to vacate POK. Without first vacating POK, you have no legal or moral grounds on Kashmir issue. @citizen26: If I am wrong and you are right then how come the so called Prime Minister of AJK did not make the speech in UN ? Least your PM could have done was to take AJK PM with him to UN.

Ali S | 8 years ago | Reply Why doesn't anyone ever define what the 'resolution of Kashmir issue' or the 'Kashmir issue' itself means? How about putting the rest of Pakistan first and once everything there is resolved then we will discuss Kashmir? An army base in Peshawar got attacked a few weeks back and why are we still so concerned about Kashmir? Our PM went on about it and now our COAS, it's as if whatever new direction we thought we were headed in after the APS Peshawar is now being forgotten and we're reverting to old tricks.

Bob Mack | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan's specific challenges require civil and military leadership working in tandem. Corruption and terrorism are two major hurdles to its progress, the former is being well beaten by the very popular and honest general while day to day running of the government remains with NS. Both seem to have reasonable chemistry despite memories of the past. I think NS does not mind sharing power with military as opposed to risking his rivals like Imran Khan who would be happy for army to take over. Apart from terrorism there is an anti corruption campaign underway and sadly but rightly the present and past leaders are being brought to book...in most cases quite rightly. The only problem will be not finding anyone with proper credentials and without serious fault......how will a line be drawn between acceptable and non-acceptable corruption and will their be anyone left to rule the country. Other than military. In a way one would not mind seeing a corrupt democracy to dissolve as long as the alternative system is good enough to deliver. Pakistan has enough resources to eradicate poverty if it can tackle corruption and make people pay their taxes.

Name not required | 8 years ago | Reply Aye Aye General!! See the comment section to see how rattled Indians are ;) Keep it up mate!!

citizen26 | 8 years ago | Reply @ABCD lolz at your knowledge. There is a place called Azad Kashmir (English translation is Independent Kashmir) and its capital is Muzzaffrabad. They have their own parliament, PM and you term that occupying forces. Pity at your knowledge and I can only feel sorry for you.

Ibrar | 8 years ago | Reply @buba: What bargain? Once the k issue is resolved India would not need a nuclear shield. In any case it would be a poor deal considering country's location next to its opponent. The nuke-filled rival could still despatch some toys by road, hence bypassing the need for missiles or any other delivery system.

shank | 8 years ago | Reply even if kashmir is given to Pakistan, its not going to develop-pakistan occupied kashmir is proof.

Afzal | 8 years ago | Reply @ABCD: What an utter nonsense to expect Pakistan to vacate POK! Both countries would be required to do that. Under the current circumstances it would be more appropriate to conduct a referendum without the need for any party withdrawing first However excessive Indian army presence will require curtailing. India is not a wise country, it has unnecessarily kept the region on the boil by maintaining an egoistic attitude. Intrasigence is unlikey to help.

Adeel | 8 years ago | Reply Our neighbors here missing the point, if you want peace that is going to be mutual effort. Pakistan ain't going to come towards India unless India walk the half way. We have taken the initial steps its on Indian leadership to break their stubborness. Otherwise you have heard the man we are ready for the hot or cold start. May be indian leadership is too old or their American friends have some agenda to accomplish through them.

buba | 8 years ago | Reply I would argue that Pakistan's position is such that war is inevitable. As such India should adjust it's policy - not walk away from Kashmir - but buy expensive high tech aircraft from USA and obtain the Missile Defense Shield as part of the bargain. Game changer.

ABCD | 8 years ago | Reply Vacate POK first and then insist for UN resolution of J&K. World will surely then listen to Pakistan.

Replying to X