Ahead of UNGA, Pakistan army chief harps on Kashmir: Islamabad just desperate to get attention

This must be the hundredth time that Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif has spoken of Kashmir as the “unfinished agenda” of partition. His latest remark was made at a ceremony at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi on 8 September 2015 to commemorate the 1965 war with India. Raheel Sharif, in 2014 and 2015, has made several references to Kashmir in similar light. The aim seems to internationalise the Kashmir issue. Infact, Pakistan’s recent focus on Kashmir is purposely timed to the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which just begun. Earlier this month, during defence day celebrations, General Sharif reiterated had described the Kashmir issue as the “unfinished agenda of the Partition in the subcontinent”. He also alleged that the Kashmiri people were being subjected to “injustice and atrocities” and added that the issue could “no longer be put on the backburner.” In October 2014, while addressing the passing out parade of the military academy in Kakul, Sharif stated that only a fair and just resolution of Kashmir issue, in accordance with the will of Kashmiri people as enshrined in the UN resolutions, could ensure lasting peace in the region. Fair enough, but resolution of the issue, according to the UN resolution, will require Pakistan to withdraw its forces from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. This is unlikely to happen. [caption id=“attachment_2437730” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif. Reuters[/caption] Earlier in May 2014, Sharif had described Kashmir as the “jugular vein” of his country, saying the issue should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris and in line with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions for peace in the region. Elaborating on what he meant by jugular vein, Sharif said, “Coercion and repression of the Kashmiri people will never shake their confidence to ultimately exercise their freedom of choice promised by the international community. It is our firm belief that the determination of our Kashmiri brethren and collective conscience of free world will bear fruit and their aspirations will eventually be realized,” he added. It doesn’t need a soothsayer to say that the language used by Raheel Sharif is no different from that used by the ISI’s proxies, namely Hafeez Saeed and party. That Kashmir remains a core issue for Pakistan is well known and articulated, but little is said about the state of affairs in the occupied territories. One has to only recall that over the years, by subterfuge or force, Pakistan has merged both parts of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir into itself. This includes the Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. Additionally, direct rule from Islamabad has only alienated the people of the region, with little freedom. Essentially, the Army has ruled the areas since 1947. Every aspect of Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir is outdated and unaccepted by the international community. The UN Resolutions are effectively dead as Pakistan never stuck to its part of the bargain. Both nations have moved on and contrary to perception, India has actually held more elections successfully in Jammu and Kashmir than Pakistan. This should be taken note of. Thus, if one were to dissect the series of statements made by General Sharif, it only reinforces the standard view that Islamabad is desperate to gain international attention, when no one is really interested in bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. Perhaps at this stage, only the US would be interested, but for their own reasons. In the long run, Pakistan must realise that the Kashmir bogey is no longer fashionable and if it is serious about pursuing a dialogue with India it has to be realistic. Gen. Sharif needs to be reminded that the world knows of the game Pakistan is playing and it is time to stop harping on the theme!