Daily Times

As per World Asia dated 10 January 2020, amid US-Iran tensions, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that Pakistan would not become part of any war, but wouldbecome a country which will make peace among statesand it would try its best to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as between Iran and the US.In this context, the former DG ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor, also said, “Pakistan would play the role of a peacemaker and not take sides in any conflict”.He also said,”Pakistan has defeated and eliminated terrorism on its territory and would not allow its soil to be used against any other country,”.

This is a policy, which Pakistan has been pursuing since last many years to seek and maintain peace in the region and beyond. For the last some years Pakistan has facilitated talks between the Afghan Taliban and the US to end the long war and seek peace in Afghanistan. For the last one and a half year Pakistan has made this policy more explicitbytrying to play a role as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to restore their broken ties and between Saudi Arabia and Iran to reduce tension between them..

Likewise, as mentioned above, recently Pakistan also took up the role of a mediator to reduce tensions between Iran and the US. This role Pakistan has adopted due to the reason that because of the long Afghan war the Afghan people and Pakistan have suffered too much. Also, since 1947, South Asia has suffered a lot economically due to India seeking domination over its neighbours through power politics using terrorism and military aggressions. Pakistan is the one, which has suffered the most since it resists India’s efforts of establishing hegemony in South Asia.

Pakistan’s role is even more important in view of its CPEC led agenda of peace and development and regional connectivity to facilitate its own economic development and development of the aforementioned regions

Right at the time of its independence and creation of Pakistan, through its military aggression in October 1947, India occupied more than half of the then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Since 148/49, India has foiled all UNSC attempts of holding the plebiscite in Kashmir. That situation resulted into 1965 war over Kashmir.And in 1971, India dismembered Pakistan through its military aggression. In 1999 another small scale war was fought over Kashmir.

Since 2001, India has termed the freedom struggle in Jammu and Kashmir, as terrorism and blamed Pakistan for supporting that and it has been using rampant force to crush the Kashmiris freedom struggle. While India has also alleged Pakistan for supporting terrorism in Afghanistan, it has been sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan, using the Afghan soil. India combined this strategy with a policy of refusing dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir, till Pakistan ends its so called support for terrorism.

In August 2019, India has constitutionally integratedthe occupied Jammu and Kashmir by taking away its autonomy by abrogating Article 370 of the Indian constitution, and dividing the state into two so called union territories.

While since long Pakistan is seeking peace with India by making efforts for resolving the Kashmir dispute through talks, India continues to deny to hold a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir and also continues to create tension with it on the line of control (LoC). India has also imposed the curfew and telephone/internet blackout in occupied Kashmir and is committing genocidetherefor the last six months. India has also refused foreign mediation on Kashmir.Only recently India has denied President Trump’s offers for mediation on Kashmir.

The Indian Army Chief, General Manoj has warned Pakistan for preemptive strikes if itdoes not stop its so called state-sponsored terrorism, despite that Pakistan had blunted India’s so called surgical strikes on 27 February 2019, by downing its two aircraft and capturing a pilot. But India’s preemptive strikes policy against Pakistan is very dangerous, as any such event can turn into a major war between the two nuclear neighbours.

India has been struggling to scuttle the US-Taliban peace talks also by conniving with the Afghan government. India plays the spoiler role, not only to checkmate Pakistan’s international standing,its good relations with the Muslim countries,and encourage division among the Muslim states to dominate the South, Westand Central Asia, the Middle East,and the ASEAN region. Despite India’s bad politics,Pakistan is determined to continue to make efforts to seek and maintain peace in South Asia and the adjoining regions.

Pakistan’s role is even more important in view of its CPEC led agenda of peace and development and regional connectivity to facilitate its own economic development and development of the aforementioned regions. And, India opposes Pakistan’s good efforts to negate its economic development and the success of its foreign policy.However, Pakistan has adopted this policy where it will reduce tensions in the region and it will be on the side of peace and will not become party to anyone or anything but will be partnersfor peace.

The writer is a former Research Fellow of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Islamabad and Senior Research Fellow of Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad