Tariq Khalil
It is now over 20 days curfew is going on. After SC preliminary meeting what next. First, Pakistan must continue its diplomatic assault in UN, EU, Russia and other countries. Sustained efforts are required to project what is happening in Kashmir, town to town, village to village. The atrocities a la Hitler style must be projected on a daily basis not only in UN but also to governments and media all over the world. World must be made to realise the Philosophy of RSS, akin to Hitler concept of Librium, India is for Hindus only, and Kashmir being integral part of India , is also for Hindus alone , Muslims there are usurpers . It is a call for disaster in the offing. Will the world wake up when another holocaust would occur. Note, Genocide Watch has already issued a warning. Let there be no doubt that Modi has successfully executed his plan to annex the territory of Kashmir. The status of Kashmir has been changed despite the rhetoric and so called voices of secular India. Optic diplomatic measures by Pakistan and even going to ICJ will be media exercise and India will gain time, which is the Indian strategy. Time is essence for India. Dovel and Indian hawks are sure to subdue the voices internally and handle international players diplomatically buy some time, by buying favours (arms deals), economic market, and some time creating threat of war. Irony, they have even bought your ME friends, and Modi is being given Awards in the UAE. The UNSC, yes, we have been able to bring the issue back to that platform. But, beyond debate, diplomatic optics, it is the permanent members who matter.
We have now China on our side, Russia/China commonality of interests may bring them to support settlement, US is likely to weigh the situation, with Afghanistan issue in the background my also call for settlement. France, cornered, may not veto but abstain, if there is any vote for resolution. What settlement? Resolution, if we successfully manage, India will defy as it has done earlier and on the foot steps of Israel. They always defied UN and we see the situation on ground. As for as India, as Amit Shah said in Indian Parliament, the question of Kashmir is now settled, the next step is to free Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK) along with Gilgit-Baltistan. For regional and global supremacy of India, freeing PaK is necessary. This will also settle the CPEC issue. This is a sinister plan and hawks in India feel they can achieve this aim. They claim support of US and other countries whose strategic interests are liked to India. This mediation for what? Status quo! While India strengthens its occupation. In a nutshell, it is the power and at the end of the day cost of operation matter. Countries go to table for a purpose and meaningful dialogue only when cost of occupation starts pinching. Thus, Pakistan has to go beyond rhetoric of diplomatic and moral support for Kashmiris.
A tragedy is waiting to happen. It is meaningless to ask India to lift curfew. This they have to lift any day, what matter is reversal of Kashmir’s status, which they will not. And, above all settlement of Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Resolutions. Therefore, the real pressure will come when after lifting of the curfew, how the people of Kashmir decide to defy India for their actions. Beside protests and strikes, the chances are intifada, peaceful so far, will convert itself into liberation war. They have examples like struggle in Afghanistan, or battle in Bosnia which forced US and EU to act, or continued struggle in Palestine. It is the time Pakistan policy and resolve will be judged and seen. How far, Kashmiris can bleed India. Though psyche of Hindu mind to open its wallet what ever the cost to defeat the enemy. AJK is a government of Kashmiris and can announce to represent whole of Kashmir. Legally and under international law they can lend material support to IoK people in their struggle.
Besides Kashmir, Indian Muslims are facing threat of extinction on the hands of Modi’s Neo Nazi regime. “Mukt Muslman” is the new movement and for that practical steps have been taken. First, India has launched National Register for Citizenship (NRC), every person has to register himself and obtain citizenship certificate. It is primarily directed against Muslims and also other non Hindu minorities. Already 4.5 million Muslims have been striped of citizenship in Assam and asked to go to Bangladesh. Not coming in Media, detention centres are being set up to detain those who stand stripped of citizenship. This is exactly on the lines Nazis did. This after revocation of Article 370 will get applied to India-occupied Kashmir. Strategy is to eliminate Muslims from India. Will Pakistan stand as mere spectator, whereas under Liaqat-Nehru Pact Pakistan has right to question India. Best is to warn the world of coming tragedy. You may not want war, but at time you cannot escape. For Pakistan, best policy will be to bleed India by supporting all those in Kashmir and further defend itself in strength. Knowing the plans, be ready to face any adventure on the LoC and even on Working Boundary. Domestically, our political parties should wake up. And traders if do not pay taxes, negotiate but still they do not behave, law should take its course. Pakistan must stand on its own feet.
—The writer, a retired Brigadier, is decorated veteran of 65 & 71 wars and a defence analyst based in Lahore.