Daily Times

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a public gathering after the PML-N’s Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) electoral win, said that Pakistan is waiting for the day when Kashmir becomes its part. Such statements are nothing more than rhetoric as politicians utter these statements to win the masses’ support. It has become a norm for politicians to make unrealistic claims and repeat popular phrases for getting votes. The PM’s statement has not much to do with the official stance of the state. Instead of indulging in wishful thinking, the PM needs to sit back and think with a cool mind the ways to resolve the regional issues. History shows that wars or war like tactics do not help resolve the conflict. Rather the masses continue to suffer due to this mentality. Pakistan’s official stance on Kashmir is that it extends all-out moral support to Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom, and will continue to raise its voice for their right to self-determination at every platform. This stance is commendable but making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate. By uttering these words, in fact, the PM is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also. In this way, the relationship between India and Pakistan will remain tense. On its part, India considers Jammu and Kashmir its state with a special status while Pakistan has declared it a disputed territory.

Talking about Kashmir’s accession with Pakistan is easy but nobody knows how it will happen. What will be the roadmap and policy to bring the entire Himalayan region into Pakistan’s fold? It could only happen either through talks or war. There is no other solution to this seven decades long conflict. Kashmiris are already paying a heavy price for this conflict. They are being killed and facing persecution at the hands of Indian army due to this lingering issue. Instead of giving sentimental statements, government should outline a clear policy to settle the issue. It has to take stock of its own resources and present situation in the country. What can Pakistan offer to Kashmiris when it is still coping with numerous challenges that are posing a threat to its own stability? Instead of talking about capturing more land, government needs to make AJ&K a model state where all Kashmiris happily aspire to live. For the last 67 years, Pakistan has failed to ensure good governance in AJ&K. Not only AJ&K, many areas of the country are still facing neglect where people have no access to basic needs of life. Extending moral support to Kashmiris is good but making such statements is totally uncalled for. Government needs to find a political solution to the Kashmir issue instead of indulging in mere rhetoric. The governments of Pakistan an India should resolve their bilateral issues amicably. They have to invest in peace for progress and prosperity of the region. They need to get engaged in the dialogue process to pave the way for further talks to help find common ground to end differences. A political will is needed for bringing an end to the decades’ long mistrust and resentment. The leadership of both countries must rise above all the differences for the establishment of permanent peace. They must compromise in the larger national, regional and global interest. Already, the people of both countries have suffered a lot due to tense relations between the two states, while the prospects of economic and trade cooperation are still a far cry. Both Pakistan and India governments must take pity on their respective people and come to the negotiating table for striking a permanent peace deal. In order to normalise ties, both Pakistan and India should resolve all key issues including the main one of Kashmir for normalcy in the region.*