Daily Times

Now is the time to know whether Kashmir is an internal issue of India or a longstanding international dispute that deserves our utmost attention.

This debate holds several pertinent questions, first and foremost of which is why does India take it as a personal matter? Why has this major issue remained unheard for decades? Why did Pakistan close its eyes for over 20 years upon the contention?

Who will be responsible for the consequences of a strategic intrusion by China, US or even Pakistan? While the clock cannot be reversed but for a better and peaceful future, we do need to relook into weak strategies to counter the Kashmir issue, not dealt as in the past.

The former approach of Pakistan in dealing with the matter strengthened Indian control over the disputed territory.

Yet another question arises that how did India become successful in registering its control over IOK.

Now that Pakistan has taken the issue to OIC, it has raised concerns on reports that Indian authorities blocked Muslims from practising their religion, cut their food supply and created a blackout over the territory.

Kashmir is under a complete lockdown since August 5, 2019, when the Indian government revoked its constitution’s Article 370 and 35A.

By failing to fulfil its commitment of provision of basic living rights, India has emerged as a criminal in the eyes of the international community. The incident of August 5 has, therefore, weakened its control over Kashmir.

We should not forget the remarkable resolve with which Pakistan took over the case of Kashmir

Thereafter, the OIC demanded India to lift restrictions from IOK. This is a huge diplomatic achievement for not just Pakistan, but every Islamic country.

The fact that Ordinance No 1172 was passed in January 1948 proves that India has been misleading the world on the issue of Kashmir for over half a century. However, now the case in point has become one of convergence due to the increasingly complex situation at Ladakh. Its establishment as a union territory involves Chinese territory. This step has posed a challenge to China’s sovereignty and violated the agreement signed between the two countries on maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Likewise, China and Pakistan have accused India of violating human rights in Kashmir during the ongoing crackdown. India’s justification that law and order need to be maintained for the very survival of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir has been rejected as a specious argument.

Now, it is upon China to aptly respond to the present state of affairs. We should, however, not forget the remarkable resolve with which Pakistan took over the case of Kashmir and successfully conducted it. Pakistan should now not beat about the bush, bite the bullet and remain steadfast in its mission. It should continue to call upon the international community for help in solving the major South Asian dispute. Any distraction can lead to chaos.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to counter India’s actions at the UN security council, and take the matter to the International Criminal Court.

In an ominous warning, he said, “If the world does not act today (if) the developed world does not uphold its own laws, then things will go to a place that we will not be responsible for.”

Pakistan has repeatedly expressed the desire to negotiate over the matter. Thus, it should now be crystal clear to the world that the contemporary government of Pakistan has repeatedly offered dialogue over Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign minister has stated that the government of Pakistan would take its Kashmir dispute with India to the International Court of Justice. To gain success at this front, Pakistan should engage a panel of lawyers of international repute to pursue the case on its behalf at the UN top court. Having expertise in brilliantly putting forward the detailed picture in the disputed valley before the eyes of the international community has a stronger chance of following through. Pakistan should definitely take this chance!

The writer is a human rights activist, a blogger