Indian PM may have opened Pandora’s box, says ex-ambassador – Pakistan

KARACHI: The current crisis in Kashmir has opened a door: India is receiving negative publicity in international media. This was pointed out by Shahid Amin, a former ambassador and diplomat, during his talk on the topic "Kashmir is burning" at the WFP House on Saturday night.

Amin said that by discarding articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution, the Indian government led by Modi had taken away the limited autonomy that the people of Kashmir had. After shedding light on the genesis of the Kashmir problem from the moment Pakistan and India gained independence, the ambassador gave the reasons to discard the items mentioned above. He argued that the Hindu nationalist forces in India were always unhappy with Kashmir's autonomy. They never accepted that Urdu is the official language of the region or the fact that people other than cashmere could not own land there. So, the idea was to demographically alter the situation in Kashmir.

Amin said over time that the Hindu nationalists gained strength in India, which can now be seen in the form of BJP. They believe in Hindutva's philosophy, according to which, "Hindustan belongs to Hindus." They consider Muslims as invaders that destroyed India. It is amazing why they hate Muslims, because Muslims in India do not pose a threat. In the 650 Indian parliament, there are barely 25 Muslims. In general, Muslims do not obtain representation according to their population in any sector. Muslims do not even easily get residences to live. Then there have been incidents of lynching of the Muslim mafia.

Amin said the BJP had won the recent elections with a majority under its anti-Muslim agenda. It also has an anti-Pakistan agenda. BJP supporters cannot tolerate Pakistan, and they feel that Pakistan belongs to what they call "Akhand Bharat." Therefore, it is an extremist Hindu mentality that is behind the scrapping of the articles.

"Trump's offer to mediate maybe made Modi accelerate the step he was supposed to take a little later."

Amin said that the president of the United States, Donald Trump, does not want confrontation between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers. The international community is also worried about that. Trump's offer to mediate perhaps caused Modi to accelerate the step he was supposed to take a little later. People often ask why Modi did not do it in 2014. The answer is that in 2019, unlike 2014, the BJP won with a majority. “Modi has an aggressive personality. He thinks he is a man of action. [But] the reality is that this is a desperate act, almost like an act of a player about which we cannot say with certainty what will happen. I may have opened Pandora's box. "

Mr. Amin said that at least a couple of positive things had come out of everything. The first is that there were some people in Kashmir who were in favor of India, such as Sheikh Abdullah; They have also become anti-India. "All cashmere are [now] unified in his anti-Indian feelings. There has been a curfew for the past 25 days. "Second, internationally, the Kashmir problem is moving towards the center of the stage. It is getting more coverage than before. As a result, Pakistan could take the matter to the Security Council from the ONU.

Amin said that Islamic countries mostly had not supported Pakistan on the issue. UAE [even] He gave his highest prize to Modi. It is disappointing. But it is not the ICO that has failed, because it is an institution; its ICO members who have failed. The members of the ICO have no unity. "The whole world has an idea about what is happening in Kashmir. They deliberately turn a blind eye. National interests dictate politics. Ideology and feelings have a secondary or peripheral role to play."

Mr. Amin said that Pakistan is a nuclear power but economically we are weak. The current Pakistani government is doing well [to improve the economy] but this country over the years has been looted and had wrong priorities. "Where is the national cohesion?" He commented.

Mr. Amin said we don't have to be dejected. A door has been opened: India is receiving negative publicity in the media. Once the curfew in Kashmir relaxes, the Kashmirians will come out in large numbers and there is likely to be confrontation [with Indian forces]. The spirit of freedom of the Kashmir people is gaining strength. There will be rethinking in India. "We [India and Pakistan] They are two nuclear powers. Do not speak freely about war. Nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought. "

The conference was organized by the Irtiqa Institute of Social Sciences in collaboration with the Pakistan Medical Association.

Posted on Dawn, September 1, 2019