Kashmir: A question Imran Khan must answers
From 1949 to 2019, India could not dare to change the status of its illegally occupied parts of the Jammu and Kashmir State.
In this entire seven decades, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) maintained a special status through a special provision under Article 370 of the Indian constitution which was ratified by the Constitutional Assembly of Indian Occupied Kashmir before it was dissolved in 1957.
The question arises what impelled India in 2019 that, it suddenly decided to undo the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and annexed it illegally and unilaterally with Indian Union as two separate union territories; Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The worst part of this illegal annexation was that there was no reaction from the Government of Prime Minister Imran Khan except a Speech at United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2019 and demonstrations within Pakistan to convince the convinced.
There were no diplomatic efforts made over this illegal Indian act by PTI Government of Imran Khan, despite he committed himself to be the ambassador of Kashmiris for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
It is worth mentioning that, Chinese led United Nations Security Council (UNSC) closed door meetings did not even condemn the Indian illegal act.
Besides, there issued no statement by UNSC, emphasizing the restoration of special status of the IIOJK during its closed door meetings.
The people of Pakistan and Kashmiris from all over the globe has the right to ask, Mr Imran Khan three questions; a) why did his Government adopt a policy of silence over Kashmir, after unilateral Indian act of annexation of IIOJK on August 5, 2019, b) what was agreed between Imran Khan and former US President Trump over the future of Kashmir during his visit of White House in July 2019, c) why Pakistani nation and Kashmiris have been kept in darkness, if there took place any understanding over the future of Kashmir between Imran Khan, Trump and India.
Pakistani nation and Kashmiris have genuine rights to ask these questions from ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, being the chief executive of Pakistan and ambassador of Kashmiris.
It is worth mentioning that former US President Donald Trump alienated and threatened Pakistan in his Afghan Policy (South Asian Policy) issued in August 2017.
In this policy, Trump stressed a major role for India in Afghanistan by coercing Pakistan in statement in the words; “lies and deceit”.
Later in his New National Security Strategy (NSS) unveiled in December 2017, President Trump again bullied Pakistan along with Russia and China while appreciating Indian role.
In December 2018, the impulsive American President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking Pakistan’s help in the resolution of Afghan crisis.
As a result of this letter, Pakistan provided all out support to US and brought Afghan Taliban on to the negotiating table which resulted into an agreement between US and Taliban on February 29, 2020 and later Taliban take-over in August 2021.
This all was done as per the wish and will of United States which means Imran Khan followed the American guidelines.
In July 2019, President Trump surprisingly invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to Washington where apart from other issues, Kashmir dispute was the main focus.
President Trump offered to mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. While talking to media, President Trump said that, Indian Prime Minister NarendraModihad requested him (Trump) either to “mediate or arbitrate” over the seven decade Kashmir conflict.
“If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. ” This was an overt statement on Kashmir by Trump in which Imran Khan was mysteriously quite.
Nevertheless, few days after this visit, India illegally and unilaterally annexed IIOJK into Indian union as two union territories after doing away its special status.
This Indian action clearly speaks that; roots of annexation of IIOJK into Indian union can be traced from the meeting of President Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan of July 22, 2019.
This argument is further strengthened once analysed from the events took place between August 5, 2019 and April 2022.
India put Kashmiris of IIOJK into complete siege and under very strict curfew while brutalizing the masses through massive killings of Kashmiri youth, torture, arrests and demographic changes in IIOJK.
While this all was happening in IIOJK, there was no tangible action taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Government to stop the Indian illegal and atrocious acts in IIOJK.
Rather he officially stopped the Kashmiris from Azad Kashmir to go to IIOJK for assisting their brethren.
In fact, the PTI Government sponsored protests and statements were merely meant to cover up the Indian illegal act and massive human rights violations in IIOJK through a misleading campaign aim to betray the Pakistani masses and the people of Kashmir.
Kashmir is not only an issue for the survival of Kashmiris but an issue of national security and national interest of Pakistan without which Pakistan is incomplete.
Therefore, no one has the right to compromise over the future of Kashmir and Kashmiri’s right of self-determination.
Pakistani nation and the people of Jammu and Kashmir has the right to ask Mr Imran Khan as what concessions were made to India over the future status of the Indian occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir during his meeting with former US President Mr Donald Trump on July 22, 2019.
Indeed, this infamous meeting proved as precursor for another occupation and annexation of IIOJK into Indian union.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
