Daily Times

The stressful situation between Pakistan and India continues. Two Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in an episode of cross-firing at the Line of Control, which India claimed was a surgical strike. The joint session of parliament was convened to reaffirm the national resolve for safeguarding the sovereignty and preserving the territorial integrity of the motherland against any kind of external or internal threat as well as reiterating moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of the Pakistan armed forces to match any provocation by Indian security forces.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan would respond “befittingly” to any firing by India from across the Line of Control. The All-Party Conference reflected the sentiments of people of Pakistan, and showed that all political parties stand by the government and the courageous armed forces at this critical time. At this time, a united Pakistan can counter Indian aggression, and by working together we can achieve our national security goals. India has mercilessly killed 108 people in Kashmir just two and a half months, while hundreds have been injured by use of brute force.

The UN Secretary General, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Kashmir and Turkey have assured Pakistan that they would be dispatching fact-finding missions to Kashmir for determining the extent to which Kashmiri people were being subject to unprecedented use of brutal force by India. The prime minister went to the United Nations with various objectives, one of which was to raise voice about Kashmiri struggle and to highlight Indian atrocities against unarmed innocent Kashmiris.

Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has alleged that India has no moral ground to talk about counter-terrorism efforts and pointing fingers. Aziz said, “Modi is misleading his BRICS and BIMSTEC colleagues” after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Pakistan is the “mother-ship of terrorism.” It actually shows that the Indian leadership is desperately trying to hide brutalities in Kashmir, diverting the issue and putting the blame on Pakistan.

The UN and the OIC have rejected Indian attempts to equate Kashmiris’ movement for self-determination with terrorism; the UN has repeatedly emphasised that people fighting for their self-determination cannot be categorised as terrorists. Pakistan is and has been a victim of Indian interference and subversive activities, which are aimed at destabilising the country.

India constantly wants to keep the world under an impression based on lies that do not exist in reality, the impression that Pakistan has become isolated in international community. This perception needs to be corrected as the country is very much engaged in world affairs. China has opposed all forms of terrorism and has highlighted that the international community should increase counter-terrorism cooperation. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said, “Everyone knows that India and Pakistan are victims of terrorism. Pakistan has made huge efforts and great sacrifices in fighting terrorism. I think the international community should respect this.” He further added that China and Pakistan consider each other “all-weather friends” and have close diplomatic, economic and security ties.

The effort by India to turn BRICS against Pakistan is India’s failure. Whatever happens in Kashmir Pakistan gets blamed for that, but the freedom struggle that is going on in different parts of India, is that also to be blamed on Pakistan? The Indian government cannot handle the problems of its own people and start blaming Pakistan for any trouble that happens there.

Pakistan army has rendered huge sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Since the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, there have been 19,000 operations throughout the country to fight terrorism. Our armed forces and intelligence agencies have played a crucial role in these achievements. Almost 18,000 innocent citizens and 5,000 officers and soldiers of the armed forces have laid their lives, while over 48,000 Pakistanis have suffered serious injuries. While criticising the reaction of the international community about world terrorism, spokesman of the Pakistan Army, Lt General Asim Saleem Bajwa has said the world should not suspect their intention in the war against terror as Pakistan had to bear billions of rupees losses along with sacrifices of thousands of people.

General Bajwa expressed these views during an interview with a US broadcasting group on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of 9/11. He said that fingers should not be pointed at Pakistan’s determination in its fight against terrorism, and sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan in this regard should be remembered. He said Pakistan had been facing the worst kind of terrorism for 15 years, and it had done more work than the rest of the world to combat terrorism. Our armed forces are being patient and tolerant towards the Indian army aggression; their focus is on how to strengthen the forces, and General Raheel Sharif visits posts at the Line of Control to give support and encouragement to soldiers and officers.

We can’t expect much good from our neighbour at this point. We should also focus on how to strengthen our air force command. Pakistan has invited India many times for bilateral talks, but there has been no positive answer from their side. China and America have also asked India to talk on the issue of Kashmir but there is no effect of that, so far, on Narendra Modi. The United Nations should take steps to stop Indian aggression in Kashmir as it has been highlighted before the international community so many times. A conference should be held on security situation in South Asia as it is for the peace and security of the whole world.

The true solution for the struggle for self-determination resides not in raining bullets upon the defenceless Kashmiri people but in heeding their voices and respecting their aspirations. The Kashmir issue can only be resolved by implementing the UN Resolutions.

The writer is a Peshawar-based freelance columnist