Adil Nawaz
On 5th August 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government used its brute parliamentary majority to rescind Article 370 and 35A. The Article gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) which included a separate constitution, a state flag and freedom to do and act as you choose over the internal administration of the state. The act was used to gain support and fulfil the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda of abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) while undermining the fact that this undemocratic act will have serious consequences on the stability of the region. This act directly compromised the democratic culture of the so-called largest democracy of the world. The act was celebrated by the BJP government throughout the country, however it was criticised by other political parties and civil societies. However, the abrogation of the article raised questions that how the Indian Lok Sabha can take such a step that is unilateral when the issue of Kashmir is bilateral between two nuclear armed states, Pakistan and India, pending on the floor of the United Nations(UN).
A national census was observed throughout Pakistan over the issue that was followed by social media campaigns, diplomatic drives and protests all over the globe by overseas Pakistani communities. Pakistan internationalised the matter by taking the Kashmir issue to international forums like the United Nations. A decision was made at a meeting of the National Security Committee to cut off all the diplomatic relations with India. Pakistan recalled its High Commissioner to Pakistan and fired the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan. All the cultural exchanges including Samjhauta Express were banned. Later, on 9 August 2019, Pakistan suspended all sorts of trade with India. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the BJP government of ethnic cleansing of Muslims of India by comparing it to Nazis.
Pakistan should form a multi party committee with members who have foreign policy experience to activate Kashmir. Although ICJ doesn’t seem to have compulsory jurisdictions to accept Pakistan’s case with respect to Kashmir, ICJ has got the power to issue advisory options. This would require Pakistan to have international diplomatic backing. Pakistan has also the option to raise the issue of Human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Moreover, diplomatic efforts with friendly states can also divert the attention of the globe to the Kashmir matter as the Chinese Foreign Minister took over the issue before the UNSC in the past. For instance, debates were arranged throughout the universities of the United Kingdom on Kashmir diaspora of abrogation of Article 370. Pakistan needs to approach global opinion makers including students, academia, human right activists, researchers, journalists and convince them.
However , the international community which is led by the U.S and the UNSC can play a meaningful role to address the human rights abuses that are held by the Indian government in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Considering the role of OIC, Pakistan can use it as a diplomatic tool for the peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolution. OIC must play a role here as Kashmir is Muslim majority area, and the primary purpose of OIC is facilitation of Muslims around the globe. As a result, Pakistan should hold an OIC meeting over the sole purpose of Kashmir.
The role of the Overseas Pakistan community, specially those who are studying abroad, is important here as they got an opportunity to raise the issue of human rights violations to the people and opinion makers there.
Moreover, Pakistan should highlight the need of sending UN peacekeeping missions to Kashmir in order to protect civilians there. Pakistani political experts can play a crucial role by raising the issue in the talks shows and political discussions at national and international media to expose the Modi regime that is committing atrocities against the Kashmiri people.
However the best Pakistan can do is utilise the bilateral and multilateral forums to raise the issue around the globe to pressurise the Indian government to take back the illegal action on the Kashmir diaspora. The issue of Kashmir can be resolved with India through table talk, and the meditation was offered by the President of the United States Donald Trump at the time of when former Prime Minister Imran khan visited the United States, but later on the dynamics of the world changed due to the pandemic.
While considering the contemporary circumstances, the Prime minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has held a strong stance and highlighted the need for peaceful settlement of the issue. He also added that the silence of the world about ongoing aggression in Kashmir by Indian forces cannot subdue the freedom voice there.
In a nutshell, Pakistan civil and military leadership and all the political parties have to come on the same page to raise the issue of Kashmir at the international level like UN and different parts of the world and make the voice even stronger, moreover it will strengthen the bond between Pakistan and Kashmir people.
Added to this, every Pakistani citizen should task themself as an ambassador to Kashmiris beside the diplomatic missions and international community. The tools of International forums, institutes, media, alliances, power politics are only possible solutions in contemporary times.
The Author is a student of strategic studies (2nd semester) at National Defence University (NDU)
