The ‘tone & tenor’ of Imran Khan’s brief ‘thanksgiving’ speech made it clear that he is not going to make any significant change in their Kashmir policy.
While election results were still trickling on Thursday, the cricketer turned politician Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), started singing ‘Kashmir’ song, without orchestra.
On his part, Imran Khan may try and engage with India and assert his position but any Modi cannot afford to engage with him at this hour.
Even the ‘tone’ and ‘tenor’ of his brief ‘thanksgiving’ speech made it clear on day one that he may have won the popular vote with help from his ‘masters’ in uniform but in the coming days, he is not going to make any significant change in their Kashmir policy.
Commenting on his engagement with India and his position on Kashmir Imran said,”Kashmir remains our biggest contention. It is unfortunate that Kashmir, which is the core issue between the two countries, has suffered immense human rights violations at the hands of the Indian Army in the last 30 years. The leadership of Pakistan and India now need to come to the table to resolve this and end the blame games. We are stuck at square one,” he said.
In the coming days, peaceniks on both sides of the volatile border may try and push their agenda of peace talks to kick-start the stalled dialogue process. But a lot depends on the response from the Indian side too.
The question remains can Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi really afford to engage with Imran Khan before launching his own election campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
On his part, Imran Khan may try and engage with India and assert his position but any Modi cannot afford to engage with him at this hour.
Political observers also claimed structured dialogue between India and Pakistan is still far away and most likely the new government in the office can really afford to take a final call on the dialogue process in the wake of the current political situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Power shift took place on Vijay Diwas.
The day Imran Khan’s party emerged as largest political party India was celebrating Vijay Diwas.
“No matter who gets to form the next government in Islamabad, the policy on India will continue to be determined by the military establishment” – Senior security expert Sushant Sareen
19 years ago Pakistan army had retreated from Kargil heights after facing ‘humiliating’ defeat at the hands of the Indian army.
Before Kargil happened Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff had accorded red carpet welcome to the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who traveled on ‘peace bus’ via Amritsar to Lahore.
After some weeks when Pakistan army along with militant commanders pitched their tents at Kargil heights and started monitoring the movement of the Indian troops, Shariff woke up from his deep slumber.
For a long time, he maintained he had no inkling what was going on behind his back at the behest of his military chief Pervez Mushraff. Shariff had to make way for his military chief in office. The dialogue process started with a big bang by both the leaders failed to take off triggering more death and destruction in the name of brokering peace in the region.
What experts say
Senior security expert Sushant Sareen has recently penned down a column in which he argues, “No matter who gets to form the next government in Islamabad, the policy on India will continue to be determined by the military establishment (also known now as ‘miltablishment’), the ‘deep state’ (which includes non-uniformed people even if in a subservient or subordinate role) and the ‘Department of Agriculture’ (a euphemism for the ISI these days). There is absolutely nothing on the ground to suggest that the ‘miltablishment’ or the ‘deep state’ is even interested in ending the animosity and inimicality that has driven the so-called ‘ideology of Pakistan’, the frontiers of which the Pakistan army has taken upon itself to defend”.
“If the government in Pakistan remains stable, we can at least hope for some improvement in the Indo-Pak relations,” said local Kashmiris in Srinagar.
How political parties in Kashmir reacted to Imran Khan’s victory
Political parties and people from different walks of life in Kashmir were closely watching elections in Pakistan.
With Imran Khan emerging as the new leader of Pakistan there is fresh hope for a stable government which could build friendly relations with India.
Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti in her first reaction on Twitter wrote, “It is heartening to know that the people of Pakistan have rejected extremist forces in the elections. That is the strength of democracy. One always gets to choose”.
Senior PDP leader and party spokesman Naeem Akhtar tweeted, “For us in J&K, the victory of Imran Khan will make sense only if he proactively uses his popularity across his country and influence in the deep state to rebuild peace process and help us achieve dignified peace free of violence and terror”.
National Conference leaders said the party had always been of the view “Pakistan gets a stable government” so that it creates an atmosphere of friendship with India. “It has a direct bearing on us,” said Nasir Aslam, provincial president of the NC, expressing hope that “things will be peaceful in the state”.
“We hope that the outcome of the Pakistan elections leads to friendly relations between India and Pakistan,” said GA Mir, J&KPCC president.
The common man is also optimistic of the new party coming to power in Pakistan. “If the government in Pakistan remains stable, we can at least hope for some improvement in the Indo-Pak relations,” said local Kashmiris in Srinagar.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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The trouble, toil and task of dealing with a rogue, ruffian and rudderless State such as the punk, putrid and preposterous Pakistan, hinges on the cursed, cankerous and creepy country’s abysmal, abject and atrocious affliction with the “heads I win, tails you lose” addiction, attitude and approach toward Bharat.
An illiberal, illegitimate and insolent interactive ambiance reeking of authoritarianism, arbitrariness and aggressiveness like this, only spells delusion, disruption, and disaster in diplomacy. Not only in diplomacy but across more dimensions defining, devising and directing internal/international peace, progress and prosperity.
‘Saam'(साम), ‘daan'(दान), ‘bhed'(भेद) and ‘dand'(दंड)– all demand contextual, connotative and corroborative execution, every time at an appropriate time, place and condition. Spare the rod, and you spoil not only the child but also everybody. You wipe off Mother Earth all accountability, accommodativeness and accomplishment.
We must send a very clear message to Imran, that cricket is fine. But we will attack him if he tries any hanky panky…we defeated all their military commanders : Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Mussharraff. We should clip is wings immediately!