Last fortnight shocking videos of the atrocities committed by
Pakistani Armed forces against the protestors in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir
(PoK) surfaced ringing alarming bells for the international community. The
brutal use of force to quell protests has exposed the tyranny of Pakistan. Till
now PoK has been inaccessible to the International Media and even Indian Media
failed to gain entry into the territory. Sealing of the region from the
external agencies with an iron hand indirectly speaks volumes of the atrocities
committed by Pakistan on the ill-fated residents of the Northern areas of
Kashmir. As the disturbing images became viral hope the international human
rights authorities would wake up to the brutalities.
The violent protest in the PoK region coincidentally surfaced
(erupted) with the annual address of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address
at the UN General Assembly. Smitten by the annual itch syndrome of raking up
the Kashmir issues at the global platform, he lashed out at India for fomenting
instability in Pakistan and lamented at the inability of the UN to resolve the
Kashmir issue for the past 67 years. Quite characteristically, adhering to
characteristic Pakistan’s trend of diplomatic articulation, Sharif crafted a
new four point peace initiative for resolving the Kashmir. These are- firstly,
formalizing and respecting the 2003 understanding for complete ceasefire across
LoC, reaffirmation from both parties to
refrain from use of force under any circumstances, third demilitarization of
Kashmir and finally withdrawal of forces from Siachen Glacier. While Pakistan
was smug scoring initial brownie points at the international forum attended by
representatives from 193 countries, voices in the social media quickly backed
India’s position. Rightly so for the first time Indian government displayed its
verve and resoluteness in taking the razing Indo-Pakistan dispute to a new
dimension. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj during her address used the right to
reply option and gave a behooving reply asking Pakistan to vacate the Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir which it has illegally occupied in 1948. Swaraj in specific
reference to the issues pertaining to J&K assured that India is all set to
resolve to ready all the outstanding issues if Pakistan is willing to resolve.
While the assertive posturing of Modi’s government was hailed for infusing new
strength to India’s claim over Kashmir, aggressive stance must be backed by assiduously
carrying out a sustained agenda on the PoK (which has long transformed into
Pakistan Administered Kashmir or Azad Kashmir).
Till now Indian governments have shied away from vociferously
expounding its legitimate claims over the PoK region. Past Indian governments
rarely displayed a conviction to assert India’s claims over the territory of
PoK which was part of former Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Right after
partition in 1947, accession of Jammu and Kashmir issue triggered of major
conflict between India and Pakistan. Incidentally when spurt of local rebellion
was brewing under the regime of Hari Singh in Kashmir and Pakistan with the
help of Northern tribesman and Pashtuns raided towns of Muzaffarabad and
Baramulla and just 20 miles away from plundering Srinagar. Maharaja Hari Singh
signed Instruments of Accession after partition and handed over the control
defence forces, external affairs and communications to government of India. As
fighting ensued India and Pakistan armies stabilized at the current Line of
Control (LoC) region. Later misguided Indian administration approached UN for
dispute resolution. In the meanwhile nearly one-third of J&K was lost.
Pakistan now administers the whole area which is divided into a narrow 400km
long Southern Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (Federally Administered
Northern Areas, FANA) comprising of 72,496 sq km areas to the North West of
Kashmir valley. Pakistan in 1963 under Sino-Pakistan Frontier Agreement had
ceded 5180 sq km of territory of PoK to China which has become Trans Karakoram
tract. This treaty for all practical reasons is null and void as Pakistan has
occupied the territory and hence has no authority to cede it to a third party.
Post 1948 PoK region has no trace of democracy and people were
not even entitled to choose representatives. Repressed voices of the PoK
residents don’t see light of external world as people’s liberalities are
suppressed with an iron hand by the Pakistan Armed Forces. PoK is administered
under the Azad Kashmir Interim Constitution Act passed in 1974. While the
region has a Prime Minister and its council even smallest decision process is
referred to Pakistan establishment. Government of Pakistan has a complete
bearing over the region as per Karachi Agreement that completely annihilates
the provincial autonomy of the region. In sharp contrast a normal democratic
process is in vogue in Indian Kashmir region. The growth process of the region
is more or less streamlined and Kashmiris have access to national assets and
facilities like basic health, education, employment opportunities. The
situation in PoK is deplorable as basic human, constitutional and political
rights of the residents are curtailed (2). But vainly the Kashmir valley is in
news for wrong reasons due to constant escalation of hostilities by the
Pakistan and duplicities exaggerated by separatists. Pakistan indeed never gave
up its obsession for Kashmir and hence three wars were waged so far. Apart from
the conventional wars, Inter Service intelligence (ISI) besides clandestinely
funding the separatists started infiltrating armed militants to keep Indian
Kashmir on constant boil. India for vague reasons remained a soft-state and
engaged in peace talks with its neighbor all these decades.
After Narendra Modi assumed charge as Prime Minister, he recalibrated
India’s stance towards Pakistan and raised serious objections to the Pakistan’s
insidious tradition of involving separatists in the bilateral talks between the
nations. Modi even ordained the paramilitary to give a befitting response to
the unprovoked firing of the Pakistani’s along the LoC. Modi while keen on
reaching out to the Pakistan for peace talks was unabashedly determined to
expose scandalous attacks of Pakistan. Indeed the latest edition of the peace
dialogue between the NSA’s of both countries was purposely sabotaged by
Islamabad by setting a precondition of involving separatists during the
bilateral dialogue. India has sharply rejected any such third party
interjection. Swaraj’s hard posturing at the UN asking Islamabad to vacate Pakistan
from the PoK is a right approach to resolve the Kashmir Issue. To this end,
India made a right decision in interdicting Hurriyat interference during NSA
level talks. Instead of reducing the POK issue as to a knee jerk reaction,
India should buttress claims over Northern areas of Kashmir allegedly occupied
by Pakistan. India must hasten its efforts for reintegration of PoK in India
for this region is plays a pivotal role in nurturing the Sino-Pakistan
composite dialogue and engagement. PoK, a crucial part of the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) is of immense importance for the sheer magnitude of
its strategic, political and economic relevance.
- http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/pak-pm-nawaz-sharif-rakes-up-kashmir-at-un-proposes-four-point-peace-formula_1804574.html
- http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/pakistan-occupied-kashmir-the-future-trajectory/0/
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