Sikandar Noorani
STRATEGIC signalling from India and Pakistan was very meaningful on completion of one year of unilateral illegal abrogation of quasi-autonomous status of occupied Kashmir on this 5th August. Modi decided to lay foundation stone of Ram Temple at the ruins of Babri mosque with all extremist religious fanfare on 05 August. Whereas, Pakistan surprised everyone by unveiling new political map which in fact represents the national stance on multiple border disputes with India with a more deliberate zoom on Kashmir. What apparently shocked India the most in new political map was revival of Pak claim on Junagarh and Manavadar. This move from Pak side came almost within a week time when Nepal issued new map reclaiming its territories under illegal occupation of India. Besides this, India’s border stand-off with China at Ladakh is making spicy headlines on daily basis to give a new itch to Modi and his hawkish aides.
World received some bad messages about India and its ruling elite headed by Narinder Modi. First, India threatening regional peace by forcefully pursuing border disputes with Pakistan, China and Nepal. Second, laying the foundation stone of a grand Hindu temple at the disputed site of a demolished mosque at the first anniversary of abrogation of Kashmir’s autonomy is a strong symbolic reflection of hateful Muslim centric ideology. India knew it well that idea of pushing extremist ideology of RSS in Kashmir could not receive desired support from international community due to strong Pak concerns and unmanageable retaliation from Kashmiri masses. Shocking stories about atrocities and human rights violations in IOJ&K kept surfacing on international media throughout the year. Curfew, communication shutdown and violence are the only means available with Indian state to deal with public anger and retaliation.
This was a tough year for India on diplomatic front because unlike the past Pakistan increased the momentum of its campaign. Modi was given resemblance with Hitler and political ideology of mother organization RSS was ranked with fascism. In order to counter the Pakistani diplomatic campaign focused on Kashmir atrocities and rising RSS backed Islamophobia, India launched an advance strike to divert the attention from real issues. Few weeks prior to 05 August, bunch of self-exiled separatists, activists started a vicious campaign to propagate the well-known Indian allegations against Pakistan. This time Balochistan is the centre point of Indian counter campaign. Decision makers at New Delhi have decided to bleed Pakistan with reinforced terrorism by using separatist militants. On one hand Altaf Hussain demanded separation of Sindh and abused armed forces of Pakistan. On the other hand, some unknown Sindhi and Balochi separatists announced an alliance to strike at all Chinese interests in Pakistan. PTM activists also continued hateful linguistic propaganda at a time once terrorists attacked at Pak check posts in KP tribal belt from Afghan territory.
Thereafter, situation was spoiled at Chaman border to such an extent that it led to exchange of fire and loss of precious lives. This clash provided a fresh opportunity to Indian influenced characters in Kabul establishment to ignite the fire against Pakistan and damage the bi-lateral relations recently repaired by Islamabad through border opening for trade and transport purposes. Besides pressurising Pakistan with separatist militancy and cross border terrorism, India is pumping up vicious social media campaigns to target armed forces, Kashmir policy, national harmony, international image and socio-religious fibre of Pakistan. In order to divert the attention from inhuman atrocities in IOJ&K, some well-known Delhi influenced campaigners started artificial hue and cry about missing persons of Sindh and Balochistan. Their hypocrisy got exposed with mysterious silence on extra judicial killings, brutal custodial torture, illegal detentions, gang rapes, eye blinding and house demolitions taking place in IOJ&K.
Self-styled human rights activists are not even ready to speak or write a few words about inhuman year long siege of occupied Kashmir. All these artificial activists, tight lipped on Indian naked crimes against humanity, all of a sudden continued infinite verbal cannonade on Pakistan by exaggerating fabricated stories and cheap satire. Contradictory policy line of these part time activists is so baseless that giving a counter argument would be nothing but a waste of logic and effort. It is being questioned that how a map and song can help in liberating the Kashmir? Interestingly, these objections were raised by the same quarters who always criticise armed forces of Pakistan for preferring war over peaceful methods to solve the Kashmir issue. Now, a non-violent diplomatic move of political map and a traditional inspirational song is under criticism just in line with Indian narrative. Who else can oppose, a gesture of solidarity with oppressed Kashmiris, other than India? At global and regional chessboard, new alliances are shaping up with clear objectives.
—The writer is a freelance columnist, based in Rawalpindi.
