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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
6 years of abrogation of Article 370: Why it matters and what has changed?
On August 5, 2019, India's Parliament witnessed a moment of historic consequence. Home Minister Amit Shah rose in the Rajya Sabha to introduce a resolution to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) of its special constitutional status under Article 370. Moving the resolution, Shah had then said, 'There should not be a delay of even a second to remove Article 370 from the Constitution.' Simultaneously, the government imposed a complete communication blackout in Kashmir — shutting down the internet and telephone services. There was a heavy deployment of security forces, political leaders were detained, and Section 144 was imposed. Tracing the origins of Article 370 Article 370 originated from the special circumstances after India's partition in 1947. J&K acceded to India by signing the Instrument of Accession, with Maharaja Hari Singh as ruler. At that time, Sheikh Abdullah was appointed as the head of an interim government. Later, intense discussions between Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah led to Article 370, which entered the Constitution in October 1949. What changed on August 5, 2019 On August 5, 2019, the government revoked Article 370 through a Presidential order and reorganised the state. J&K was split into two Union Territories (UTs): J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature), effective October 31, 2019. The region was put under a strict security lockdown, with leaders from major political parties detained and communication suspended. As J&K was under President's Rule, the Centre acted through the Governor in the absence of an elected Assembly. Govt's justification for abrogation of Article 370 The union government justified the act on several grounds: • Security: To curb terrorism and separatism that plagued the valley. • The government believed Article 370 hindered Jammu and Kashmir's integration with the rest of India and limited its development. • Supporters argued its abrogation would promote socio-economic development. • They said it would help ensure equal rights and opportunities for the people of the region. • Better governance was another expected benefit cited by supporters. • The move was also seen as a way to apply national laws and programs that were earlier not fully enforceable in Jammu and Kashmir. Reactions and political fallout of the decision • Domestic: The ruling BJP and its allies celebrated the move as 'historic', while Congress, National Conference (NC), People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Left parties called it undemocratic. • International: Pakistan immediately condemned the move, calling it illegal and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The country argued that India's actions had 'no legal value' under international law, and insisted that Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute, whose final status should be determined in accordance with UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. China expressed its 'serious concern', particularly regarding the reorganisation of Ladakh as a Union Territory, saying that it undermined China's territorial sovereignty claims over parts of Ladakh. Legal challenges to abrogation of Article 370 Over 20 petitions challenged the Centre's move in the Supreme Court, raising critical questions: Can Article 370 be removed unilaterally by Parliament? Is the process under the President's Rule constitutional? The matter went to a five-judge Constitution Bench, which ultimately upheld the abrogation in December 2023, calling Article 370 a temporary provision. On the ground: What has changed? There have been both positive and negative developments. While the government claims improved law and order, incidents like targeted attacks in Pahalgam highlight ongoing security concerns. However, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that the region's infrastructure development is not connected to the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Speaking to India Today TV, he urged people not to politicise development, adding, 'Let's not link the infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir to the politics surrounding Article 370.' He clarified that these initiatives were planned earlier and would have progressed regardless of the constitutional change. On security, Abdullah acknowledged a drop in terrorism and stone-pelting but attributed it partly to strict government actions, which he said, 'go against the principles of natural justice". The road ahead for J&K Restoration of J&K's statehood remains a major demand. The Modi government has promised to restore it 'at the right time', but petitions in the Supreme Court urge faster action for statehood restoration, emphasising the need to uphold federal principles. Article 370's abrogation marked a turning point in India's constitutional history, with its full impact still unfolding across J&K.
Deccan Herald
01-08-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
How Washington still knows how to rattle India
It has been an axiom in Washington for more than three decades that 'it is so easy to create a storm in New Delhi'. This week is no exception, with the west wind prevailing from Pakistan, fanned by its new best friend, United States President Donald Trump. The maxim's authorship is attributed to Robin Raphel, who served as the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia in the first Bill Clinton 1994, with the aim of disrupting the diplomatic status quo in her new charge of South and Central Asian Affairs, Raphel deliberately and calculatedly questioned Kashmir's Instrument of Accession to India. 'We view Kashmir as a disputed territory. We do not recognise the Instrument of Accession as meaning that Kashmir is forever an integral part of India,' Raphel declared. The result was a political storm in India, which is easily triggered by Americans in various public offices when they want to provoke India. Raphel then marvelled how easy it is to set off a political storm in New actions and remarks on Pakistan in the last three months are meant precisely to incite India. With these, Trump hopes to put India in what he thinks is the place it deserves in South Asia and on the global stage. It is a sign of weakness and immaturity in India's political leadership to have risen to Trump's highly provocative latest statement on Pakistan, in relation to India, is at the fag end of an announcement on social media on US-Pakistan collaboration on developing the latter's oil reserves. Trump claims these reserves are 'massive'. He wants Pakistan to sell that oil to India in announcement and Trump's opinion are full of holes. It is a pity that quarters in India, which ought to know better, are reacting to it all. New Delhi has not responded to it in any official capacity. Hopefully, such wisdom will prevail because India ought not care about what the US does with Pakistan's potential for has made no mention of this oil deal at all so far. Only Trump has done so. Normally, Islamabad leaves no stone unturned in giving maximum publicity to anything that suggests an uptick in its relations with the Trump administration. It uses such opportunities to validate a resurgence in US-Pakistan ties, which had bottomed out during the Joe Biden administration. The only hint by Pakistan is in part of a sentence from its embassy in Washington announcing a trade deal with the US on Wednesday. 'This deal marks the beginning of a new era of economic collaboration, especially in energy, mines and minerals, IT, cryptocurrency and other sectors.' It has not echoed any of the big claims by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also did not mention any oil deal while thanking Trump for 'his leadership role in finalisation of the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement.' The silence may be explained away by past failures in drilling operations by international oil companies to find any significant quantities of oil in Pakistan. The US said on August 1 that Pakistan's tariff rate will be 19%.Other than showing India its place for pursuing strategic autonomy, Trump may have another motive in getting closer to Pakistan. In Washington's growing rivalry with Beijing, Trump may be incentivising Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir to reduce their dependence on China. If the Trump administration can make headway in weaning Pakistan away from China, its all-weather friend, it would be a strategic achievement. Indians like to run down Pakistan at all times to the point of making grave miscalculations. But the worldview of Pakistan is that of a nuclear weapons state, a country of 240 million Muslims, which must be prevented from being wholly radicalised at all months of Trump's foreign policy — even trade policy — has mostly been a combination of farce, comedy, fantasies, and bravado. To list them would need more than one column. Truth be told, India would have lost nothing by thanking Trump for his administration's keen interest in ushering in peace in all global flashpoints and for the hectic South Asian diplomacy of US Vice President J D Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in defusing the post-Pahalgam flare-up between India and Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi could even have added to the Washington farce and told Trump that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. After all, why shouldn't Trump get the prize, for which the Nobel committee shamelessly found Mahatma Gandhi undeserving! India did much worse things to be liked by Trump in his first Delhi's mistake is that it has now allowed Islamabad to take pages out of its own copybook instead of barefacedly continuing to pander to Trump's ego. For now, Pakistan has won this contest. (K P Nayar has extensively covered West Asia and reported from Washington as a foreign correspondent for 15 years.) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Algeria seeks to emulate Asean model of regional cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: Algeria has expressed its deep appreciation to Malaysia and Asean member states for supporting its bid to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), describing the move as a step towards stronger bilateral and regional ties. Its Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad Minister, Ahmed Attaf, said the country was grateful for the support extended, and viewed Asean as a model of successful regional cooperation. "The rationale behind our desire to join the TAC is that we enjoy fruitful bilateral relations with all Asean nations. "By joining, we add a new dimension to the bilateral landscape, and we will be strengthening, broadening, and giving more substance and dynamism to our relations with these friendly countries," he said. He was speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan after the TAC Instrument of Accession signing ceremony today. Attaf also said Asean had succeeded in offering the world a compelling model of cooperation. As such, he added, Algeria hoped to replicate Asean's success in fostering strong cooperation, genuine integration and humility within its own region. "Asean has succeeded in offering the world a model which is an example of strong cooperation, genuine integration and modesty. "We want to learn from them how to replicate what they have successfully achieved in our respective region," he said. He added that in today's volatile geopolitical climate, such initiatives were essential for maintaining peace and stability. "We are going through difficult times internationally and globally. "We believe that movements of this nature, movements of this magnitude, help stabilise the world order based on the rule of law, respect for the UN Charter and, above all, respect for our mutual interests. "This is what Asean is all about," he said.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Uruguay foreign minister attends 58th AMM in Malaysia for TAC signing
SEPANG: Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today to participate in the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings. His arrival marks Uruguay's commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN through the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). Lubetkin touched down at the Bunga Raya Complex of KLIA at 2.45pm. His visit includes representing Uruguay at the signing of the Instrument of Accession to the TAC, a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian nations. The TAC, established in 1976, promotes principles like mutual respect, non-interference, and peaceful conflict resolution. It was amended in 1987 to allow non-ASEAN members to join. Alongside Uruguay, Algeria will also accede to the treaty during the ceremony. The signing coincides with Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' and takes place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The event underscores ASEAN's growing global engagement and Uruguay's strategic interest in regional cooperation. - Bernama
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Gilgit-Baltistan faces environmental and political crisis, says Dr Amjad Mirza on Radio Himalaya News
London [UK], May 26 (ANI): Political activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, has raised alarm over the deteriorating environmental conditions and political developments in Gilgit-Baltistan in his latest episode on Radio Himalaya News, Kashmir News Exclusive. Speaking on the urgent issue of melting glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan, Dr Mirza stated that unchecked deforestation, unregulated tourism, lack of waste management, and rising plastic pollution are accelerating glacial melt in the region. He criticised the absence of a national glacier monitoring policy and pointed out that neither Pakistan nor Gilgit-Baltistan possesses the modern technology necessary to manage glacial water, recycle waste, or monitor changes via satellite. 'India is the only country in South Asia with the capability to address these challenges effectively,' Dr Mirza said, arguing that Gilgit-Baltistan should be integrated with Ladakh under the Indian Union as per the Instrument of Accession signed on October 26, 1947. He also criticised the recently passed Land Reforms Bill 2025 in Gilgit-Baltistan, which, he said, further strengthens bureaucratic control while undermining the rights of local people. The bill, currently awaiting the Governor's assent, has triggered widespread public dissent. Civil society organisations, including the Public Action Committee led by Ahsan Ali Advocate and the Anjuman-e-Imamia Association, have opposed the bill, demanding its return to the Assembly for revisions. Several activists have been jailed for protesting the legislation, which is being described as a move to legalise land grabs. Dr Mirza warned of a potential civil disobedience movement if the demands of the people are not met. 'Gilgit-Baltistan may be ignored by the world, but not by Radio Himalaya News,' he concluded. Earlier on April 12, Mirza issued a strong statement supporting India's recent counter-terrorism offensive -- Operation Sindoor -- targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and its occupied territories. Speaking to ANI, Mirza warned that the threat of terrorism from PoJK is far from over. He asserted that the terrorist camps in PoJK have not been dismantled but only relocated after India identified their locations. 'The terrorists have been moved from places like Muzaffarabad, Leepa Valley, and other known sites. These camps are very much active -- just shifted, not shut,' he said. He accused Pakistan of continuously exploiting PoJK -- which he emphasised as Indian territory -- to wage proxy war against India. 'Pakistan will keep using PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan against India until these areas are reintegrated into the Indian Union,' he stated. (ANI)
