Naveed Aman Khan
PRIME Minister Imran Khan has announced approval of a new political map of Pakistan, which includes India-occupied Kashmir in its entirety. The approval was given in a Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Imran during which the participants were apprised of the latest situation in the occupied Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. “This is the most important day in the history that we are presenting a new political map of Pakistan before the world. The cabinet has approved the map”. According to him the Kashmiri and national leaderships have also green-signalled it. The new map would now be used in schools and colleges as well. The final status of “Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir” was to be decided in line with the relevant UNSC resolutions, read the map. ‘Reject India’s tactics’ is our new chanting slogan.
Pakistan’s ‘destination is Srinagar’. Is it? Speaking of Sir Creek, the Foreign Minister said: “Pakistan denies the Indian claims that it goes towards the West; we have denied that claim and made it clear that our border is on the East.” Qureshi said India had made these claims in a bid to capture several acres of land that were Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone. The erstwhile FATA had been merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the map earlier. The Kashmiri leadership, and the Pakistani government had backed this step, noting that it assures Kashmiris that Pakistan is behind them. Is map ‘the first step’? The only solution to the Kashmir issue was through the UN Resolution 39, adopted back on January 20, 1948 which gave the right to Kashmiris to either merge with Pakistan or India. India is trying to shift people to Kashmir in a bid to make Kashmiris a minority in the region. PM Imran reiterated that his government would raise the plight of Kashmiris on every forum possible.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi explained the changes made in the new map, saying it reflected the will and aspirations of the people of Pakistan. Qureshi should have highlighted the will and aspiration of the Kashmiris. Kashmir is the issue of Kashmiris. Kashmiri freedom fighters have long been struggling for their homeland. They are raising their truthful voices for their fundamental rights. Because of half hearted efforts in the entire world Pakistani claim over Kashmir has never been accepted. Pakistani Foreign Office has long been confused over Kashmir policy. Pakistani foreign missions are ineffective and non productive. These foreign missions seldom wake-up on Kashmir cause. Quarter a century has passed and we just faced abductions, killings, robberies and rapes. In Kashmir hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been targeted since emergence of Pakistan in 1947.
In the entire world wherever I visited I found Pakistani ambassadors completely non functional. They absolutely are not doing their jobs they have been sent for. Millions of dollars are being spent on Pakistani diplomats. But the end result is zero. They could not convince and motivate their fellow diplomats in the entire world. Pakistani ambassadors are responsible for this devastating situation. Who forbade them from doing so? Why our foreign policy handlers didn’t ask them for effective lobbying for Kashmir? Finally we need to declare foreign policy of Pakistan. No matter who decides. Once declared it should be observed. Firm stance with complete homework and lobbying can pave the way towards success. Achievement of such destinations is not a joke. It requires clarity, commitment and confidence. Incapacity is our national dilemma. Foreign Minister should always be highly capable and shrewd. Foreign policy can’t be executed with limited mental capacities and capabilities. Civil and military one page deliverance definitely harbour the destination.
Continuous lobbying in a professional manner leads towards high goals. It is not a matter of a day or two. It demands dynamic leadership with charismatic capabilities to win the destination. Pakistan came into being because of dynamic leadership and charismatic capabilities of Quaid-i-Azam. For Muslims of India no one else at his time had been dynamic like him. Unfortunately Incapable opportunist policy makers have derailed Kashmir cause. This truly is not the way to get Kashmir issue resolved. When Modi swallowed Kashmir by using Article 370 Pakistan literally was sleeping. Our Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed his wonder over Modi’s move on Kashmir. Qureshi said that we weren’t expecting Modi’s this move. As a foreign minister why he couldn’t anticipate? Modi did that Pakistan was not expecting. Is this not incapability and incapacity of Pakistani foreign policy handlers. Pro Pakistan and pro Kashmir lobbying is on zero level. On international level Pakistan has always mishandled Kashmir issue. The West, Middle East and Far East couldn’t be convinced. Whereas on Kashmir matter India has engaged lobbying firms elsewhere in the entire world. Qureshi congratulated the incumbent government for unveiling a map of the country, which included Gilgit-Baltistan as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir. What for? Will this move resolve Kashmir issue? Absolutely not. No matter we include whole of India in our map it practically will not work. Why at the time of independence Pakistan didn’t include Kashmir in its map. Why now? Will this move not raise laughter. Kashmir had not been part of Pakistan since independence? Kashmir policy handlers will have to convince it. Why long ago Pakistan could not justify status of Gilgit-Baltistan? Is it not serious blunder.
—The writer is book ambassador, columnist, political analyst and author of several books based in UK.
