Daily Times

Staying unmoved on issue of Sikkim border tension between China and India, Pakistan has put a cold water on the proposal of Chinese think tank that third country’s army could enter Kashmir at Pakistan’s request, in response to the ‘Indian logic’ that on the request of Bhotan, the Indian Army entered into China-Bhotan disputed area and stopped the Chinese military from constructing the road in Doklam area.

Under volatile situation, when expectations pop up envisaging Pakistan’s favourable gesture to embrace the suggestion so that China may sensitise international community about escalated gravity of matter, Pakistan’s military and civil establishment opt to be silent.
Even symbolically Pakistan has not hinted at a slightest warning to its arch rival India.

Putting aside China’s interest, Islamabad administration is not in a mood to cash in opportunity to hype up Kashmir problem, known as living flashpoint in South Asia that led to a war between Pakistan and India in 1948 and is still a cause of brewing confrontation between the two countries.

Rare proposal came when Chinese analyst, a research fellow at The Charhar Institute and director of the Center for Indian Studies at China West Normal University, floated his opinion on July 9 in a publication believed to be vocal on the Chinese government.

Putting aside China’s interest, Islamabad administration is not in a mood to cash in opportunity to hype up Kashmir problem, known as living flashpoint in South Asia that led to a war between Pakistan and India in 1948 and is still a cause of brewing confrontation between the two countries

Pakistan’s top think tanks also go unwelcome to the offer. Ahmed Rashid, director, China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC), Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) underlined the need to refrain from the provocation urging to address the situation diplomatically. “Technically proposal stands invalid and unpractical as Pakistan and China have not signed any military and diplomatic accord to activate armed intervention by entering army into any area on the request,” he asserted.

Responding to a query, Mr Ahmed Rashid opined that third party intervention will complicate the burning issue instead of de-escalation.

He characterised proposal highly counter-productive saying Pakistan had made political, moral and diplomatic struggle to spotlight Kashmir dispute internationally and it would never let any issue to jeopardise Kashmir freedom movement.

Seeking anonymity, senior officials in army and intelligence agencies also showed indifference over the Sikkim standoff saying Pakistan better avoid indulging into the affairs. “We are not the party to the conflict. It is a bilateral issue between India and China and let them iron it out.” an official said. Though offer to invite China in Kashmir, he said, was floated by Chinese’ analyst but even it had been laid down by Chinese government, and Pakistan should have resisted.

Pakistan has always rejected such proposals despite close relations with the friendly countries. Islamabad administration turned down Saudi Arabia’s request for tangible armed military intervention in Yemen’s operation decisive storm in April 2015.

It was a direct request from King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud seeking Pakistan’s troops against Zaydi Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presented the issue to the Pakistani parliament, which decide unanimously against the country’s involvement in the crisis. If a similar situation emerges whereby Pakistan has to ask China to send its forces in Kashmir, matter will be sent to the Chinse parliament that will likely disallow it.

Chinese official in foreign affairs ministry on the condition of anonymity claimed that in order to weigh up the response and build opinion, sometimes such proposals are released, adding that official stance is yet to be framed over the matter and so far it is a just an unofficial motion. He objected Bhutanese government’s prompt request to India that escalated tension saying instead of taking up matter diplomatically, it reacted on military ground for nothing.

Ch. AbidRaza, senior member, National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and GilgitBaltistan opined that Indian-held Kashmir situation had not reached to the point of no return or a blind allay provoking Pakistan to request China to enter its forces to liberate the region from the atrocity of India.

Senator MushahidUllah Khan was of the view that Sikkim border unrest and Kashmir occupation had taken center stage. “India is habitual of entering army into disputed areas many times in past. In October 1947 with conspiracy of Dogra Raj, Indian army entered into held-Kashmir. Later it did the same in 1971 leading to dismemberment of East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh,” he added. However, he held a view that Pakistan was a responsible country that knew how to respect UN charters and international boundaries.

He called upon both India and China to resolve the border tension using diplomatic means as the region could not bear the brunt of war and any military skirmish.

The writer is a senior investigative journalist working for China Radio International and South China Morning Post. He pitches articles on diplomacy, security, economy and foreign affairs. He may be reached at yaseerkhan@hotmail.com

Published in Daily Times, August 17^th 2017.