On higher ground

The release of the captured Indian pilot has not only strengthened Pakistan’s credentials as a peace-loving nation but has also put it on a higher moral pedestal in the eyes of the world community. The UN, the US, Russia, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries have welcomed this sagacious move by the prime minister towards de-escalation of tensions between the two countries. Even certain sections of the Indian media have welcomed this gesture which has caught the Indian prime minister off guard.

The situation that had developed as a result of naked Indian aggression could have easily escalated into a full-fledged war between the two nuclear neighbours, with all the accompanying disastrous consequences for the region and incalculable harm to both the countries. However, the restraint shown by Pakistan despite its capability – as manifested by the downing of the Indian planes in a defensive engagement – and its diplomatic offensive to sensitise the world community and urging them to dissuade India from aggression, have helped lower the temperature to some extent.

The US intervention and efforts have also contributed to prevent further escalation. The UN and Turkey also have offered to mediate between the two countries. Some countries including Saudi Arabia have initiated efforts for mediation between them and Russia has offered to host talks between Pakistan and India. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj also made a statement while in China that India did not want further escalation. The foregoing developments corroborate the success of the efforts made by Pakistan on the diplomatic front to give peace another chance. The fact that it was done from a position of strength after downing the Indian war planes has endeared Pakistan well to the global community, proving our sincerity in maintaining regional peace and resolving disputes with India through dialogue. This is an offer which has been repeatedly made to India by Prime Minister Imran Khan who even tried to call the Indian prime minister as revealed by Khan in the joint session of parliament.

Pakistan not only condemned the Pulwama incident but also offered cooperation in the investigations, assuring India that if it could provide any credible evidence to support its allegations Pakistan would take severe action against the perpetrators of the terrorist act. Unfortunately, the Indian government instead tried to use the tragedy for political advantage by fomenting anti-Pakistan feelings among the Indian masses, supported by the Indian media, which ultimately brought the two countries to the brink of war and also left India with a bloody nose.

Indian opposition parties including Congress have also accused Modi of using the Pulwama episode for political gains. The chief of India’s extreme-right political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Raj Thackeray called the Indian soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack ‘political victims’, maintaining that the truth would be revealed if the country’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was probed. Pakistan, in response to a dossier provided by India, has given word to take action if the evidence is credible.

Whether the Modi government will be able to reap political advantage from the post-Pulwama situation in the coming elections remains to be seen. Nevertheless, one thing is quite evident: it was an extremely ill-conceived and dangerous move which could have unleashed disastrous consequence not only for the two countries but also the entire region. He clearly jeopardised Indian security for his narrow political gains. He is a man who has even done incalculable damage to the secular disposition of India through his communal politics and deliberate policy initiatives to turn India into a war-like state. Under his stewardship, the Indian security forces have let loose an unprecedented reign of terror in IHK. His government is also trying to have articles 370 and 35 A of the Indian constitution undone to withdraw the special status of the state and to change its demographic features respectively; an irritant which might give further impetus to the freedom struggle in IHK.

The real cause of conflict and enmity between Pakistan is the existence of the Kashmir dispute which has remained unresolved during the last more than 70 years because of Indian refusal to fulfil its obligations towards the people of Kashmir as enshrined in the UN resolutions, its hostile posture towards Pakistan and defiance of the Simla agreement which provided another avenue of resolving mutual disputes including Kashmir through a bilateral mechanism governed by the UN charter. Instead of trying to resolve the Kashmir issue, India has used the bilateral agreement to claim that it had precluded Pakistan’s right to invoke the UN resolutions on Kashmir, being unmindful of the fact that UN resolutions took precedence over any bilateral arrangement on the same subject. The UN through resolutions 91 and 122 had repudiated the Indian claim unequivocally, reiterating that the question of accession of the state could not be resolved through any arrangement except through a plebiscite held under the auspices of the UN.

Indian intransigence to resolve the Kashmir issue forced the people of IHK to launch a freedom struggle in 1989. The Indian security forces have killed thousands of Kashmiris since then. The freedom struggle has gained further impetus since the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016. It is noteworthy that Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat in an interview with the ‘Economic Times’ last June accepted the indigenous character of the freedom struggle in IHK and suggested giving dialogue a chance. Reportedly, former RAW chief AS Dulat in an interview with an Indian TV has said that “South Kashmir is not in Indian control and aggression will further alienate people of Kashmir. Coercion will not succeed as it is a historic truth. Pakistan is a reality and there is no way out but to talk to Pakistan.”

While the efforts of the world community are welcome and a step in the right direction to defuse tensions between the two countries in the backdrop of the Pulwama incident, there is however an imperative need for removing the root cause of animosity between Pakistan and India on permanent basis through the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Until it is resolved in conformity with the UN resolutions, peace and security in the region will remain an elusive dream. It is time for India also to recognise the ground realities in its own interest as well as for the UN and the world community to play their role in creating conditions for the people of Kashmir to exercise their right of self-determination so that no Indian adventurist like Modi can ever endanger regional peace.

The writer is a freelance contributor. Email: ashpak10@gmail.com