News Analysis |
Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Sunday, vowed to stand by the Kashmiris in this difficult time and urged the UNSC to take notice of this international threat to peace and security. The premier stated that India was committing a violation of its own commitments under the 1983 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
I condemn India's attack across LOC on innocent civilians & it's use of cluster munitions in violation of int humanitarian law and it's own commitments under the 1983 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. UNSC must take note of this international threat to peace & security.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 4, 2019
“It is time to end the long night of suffering for the people of Occupied Kashmir. They must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination according to UNSC resolutions. The only road to peace & security in South Asia runs through a peaceful & just settlement of Kashmir,” he further added.
It is time to end the long night of suffering for the people of Occupied Kashmir. They must be allowed to exercise their right to self determination according to UN SC resolutions.The only road to peace & security in South Asia runs through a peaceful & just settlement of Kashmir
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 4, 2019
“This is the time to do so as the situation deteriorates there and along the LoC with new aggressive actions being taken by the Indian occupation forces. This has the potential to blow up into a regional crisis,” he cautioned.
The recent build-up of forces and their brutal use against an unarmed population is adding fuel to the fire,” it stated.
In July, Trump told reporters that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him during a meeting in Japan if he would like to be a mediator on Kashmir. However, India denied that Modi ever asked for any mediation.
Read more: Pakistan evacuates Chinese from Kashmir as Indian firing continues
Pakistan stands by the Kashmiris
Pakistan on Sunday reiterated that it will stand by the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) through thick and thin and would help them achieve their right to self-determination in line with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, warning India not to provoke the country into a confrontation.
A statement issued after the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting said, “Pakistan remains ready to defend itself against any Indian misadventure or aggression and will continue to provide all-out diplomatic, moral and political support to the brave people of Kashmir.”
The high-level huddle of Pakistan’s civil and military leaders was convened to discuss the situation rising out of tensions in IOK and the increase in ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC), especially the use of cluster ammunition to target the civilian population across the border. “Kashmir is a long-standing unresolved international dispute which needs peaceful resolution,” said the statement, urging India to come forth to resolve the issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Trump told reporters that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him during a meeting in Japan if he would like to be a mediator on Kashmir.
However, it condemned the Indian forces for unleashing a reign of terror in the occupied region, saying that “such action would have adverse implications for regional and international peace”. “The recent Indian measures will increase the levels of violence and turn this area into a flashpoint and a destabilizing factor in the midst of two strategically capable neighboring countries,” the statement added
“India, having lost all moral authority in IOK and sensing erosion of its belligerent stance at international level keeps resorting to illegal, undemocratic and inhuman measures that have resulted in huge loss of lives and property in the region. The recent build-up of forces and their brutal use against an unarmed population is adding fuel to the fire,” it stated.
Read more: International community demands India to stop violence in Kashmir
Resolving the Kashmir Issue
It is worth mentioning here that since 1947, Kashmir is a disputed territory where the Indian army has been indiscriminately using force against innocent citizens. United Nations and other international rights organizations have raised the issue of Kashmir and gross violations of human rights being committed by Indian Armed Forces various times.
The high-level huddle of Pakistan’s civil and military leaders was convened to discuss the situation rising out of tensions in IOK and the increase in ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control
As a matter of fact, 2002 Agra Summit is considered one of the greatest missed opportunities’ when President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee almost agreed to resolve the dispute. Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in his book; “Neither a Hawk nor a Dove’ wrote that the “solution to Kashmir was in the grasp of both governments”.
Read more: India, Pakistan slammed by UN over Kashmir inaction
Pervez Musharraf proposed a four-point agenda to the Indian Prime Minister based upon the following points;
1. De-militarization or phased withdrawal of troops
It was agreed that the troops would be called back in phases in order to ensure security at the border. It was a bold decision since it would have ended increased securitization of the LoC, leading to a considerable decrease in budget expenditures for both sides.
2. No change of borders of Kashmir and Kashmiris right to move freely across the LoC
The second point was important since it would have meant that the LoC marked an international border between the two independent states. While recognizing the international border, Kashmiris would have a right to freely move across the LoC without any legal restriction.
3. Self-governance without independence
According to the proposed agreement Kashmiris would not have achieved complete independence but the right to self-governance and to decide political and legislative matters for each other without undue formal intervention by either state.
4. A joint supervision mechanism in Jammu and Kashmir involving India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
Read more: India called out on Kashmir crimes: UNHRC
Lastly, Musharraf proposed to have a joint committee comprised of representatives from India, Pakistan and Kashmir to deliberate on key policy issues and offer solutions after mutual consultation.
It may be noted that the proposed solution addressed all three parties so to successfully ensure the resolution of dispute. But all went in vain when Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Gilani and Deputy Prime Minister of India LK Advani reportedly declined to approve the agreement.