Utopian claim
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India, at times, thinks it can simply get away by ignoring the reality. That apparently has been the political discourse of BJP dispensation for long as it floats unrealistic visions such as Ghar-Wapsi and Hindutva. Similar was an utterance at a Chatham House in London wherein External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar urged Pakistan to "vacate" Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and quite undiplomatically termed it as the "stolen part of (Indian) Kashmir". The exalted minister-cum-diplomat has undermined his stature by echoing the sentiments of RSS and the likes, that are literally in contravention of stated principles of bilateralism between India and Pakistan, as well as writ of UN resolutions on the disputed territory.
Pakistan was quick to reject the utopian claims by India, and reminded it that the dispute of Kashmir is yet to be resolved, and that too in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir through an independent plebiscite. Moreover, Islamabad has left no stone unturned in convincing New Delhi to hit the table for talks, and its civilian and military leadership have walked extra miles to purport the idea that normalisation of relations can precede before the dispute is addressed at an opportune moment.
The world, and Mr Jaishankar, need to be once again reminded that it is India's leadership that had spoken from the pulpit of 'invading' Pakistan and carried out extraterritorial missions by flying sorties inside AJK. Thus, comments such as "return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation" are unwarranted, and go on to exhibit India's hegemonic mindset.
The substance cited by the Indian minister that it is close to 'resolving' the dispute by abrogating the occupied state's special status under the Indian constitution, and by ushering in development are meant for political consumption. The fact is that an unresolved Kashmir is a threat to regional peace and security, and possesses the potential of pitching two nuclear states in utter annihilation. India would be better advised to think globally but act locally by resolving the Kashmir dispute.
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