Najm us Saqib<\/p>\n
It was Modi\u2019s government. It was Modi\u2019s media. It was Modi\u2019s administration. It was Modi\u2019s fever all over India. How come we didn\u2019t know that it was bound to be Modi\u2019s legal system as well? The cycle is complete now. The Indian Supreme Court has come up with an expected verdict, validating the steps taken by Modi\u2019s government on 5 Aug 2019. In other words, the continued occupation of a disputed territory has, thus, been \u2018legally\u2019 declared a part of India. Internally. It is not a new development. In fact, it is an endorsement which was thought appropriate to come by to primarily convince the people of India and the international community that look, even our Judiciary has permitted us to disregard the UN Security Council\u2019s resolutions and all norms of International Law. Not only has the Court affirmed our unilateral annexation of a disputed territory but also has very kindly given us a roadmap for running the State. End of story.
\nLet there be no doubt about BJP\u2019s designs to make the \u2018biggest democracy of the world\u2019 capable of increasing its influence in every possible direction, by hook or by crook. Come what may, India aka Bharat, particularly under Modi, is likely to continue following the narrative built around its Hindutva and RSS ideology. Keeping the fa\u00e7ade of democracy intact, India\u2019s designs to achieve the hitherto elusive status of a major regional power has recently touched unprecedented heights. Illegally annexing a disputed territory is just one of its many \u2018Pro-democratic\u2019 overtures.
\nChallenging Canada and the US in their respective territories by conducting or plotting assassinations of foreign citizens or throwing the findings of EU DisinfoLab in the dustbin with contempt, manifestly prove that India could get away with any misadventure it may feel like undertaking at any given time. And against anyone. On the other hand, the absence of any corresponding reaction from the world\u2019s major powers is intriguing, to say the least. It seems they have acquiesced to the new look \u2018Shining India\u2019 and its \u2018Brand\u2019 as such without raising any concerns. The people of Jammu and Kashmir and the minorities in India should, therefore, not expect any favourable response from the International Community. For all practical purposes, it is going to either keep quiet by looking the other way or treat it as India\u2019s \u2018internal\u2019 matter. End of story.
\nClearly, India is not concerned about losing its credibility in the international arena as a peaceful, law-abiding democracy. Neither does it seem pushed about the future of the subjugated people. Deprived of every right, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have once again been left high and dry under the watchful eyes of the United Nations. Let the Universal Declaration of Human Rights keep crying, \u2018All are equal before the law\u2019 and that everyone is entitled to \u2018a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.\u2019 A question: If \u2018everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution\u2019, would the Kashmiris be allowed to avoid any further persecution and \u2018enjoy\u2019 this privilege?
\nPakistan has categorically rejected the Indian Supreme Court\u2019s verdict as well as Indian plans that are \u2018bound to fail\u2019. Not acknowledging the supremacy of Indian constitution over a disputed territory, Pakistan has reiterated its unchanged principled stand on the Kashmir dispute and vowed to continue its political, moral, and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir.
\nIs that enough? That is the question. Has rendering \u2018political, moral, and diplomatic support\u2019 produced any tangible results? Kashmir is no longer a dispute that one could address purely in the diplomatic domain. In the emerging \u2018legal\u2019 environment in India, one strongly feels that the hapless people of Jammu & Kashmir need some legal support as well.
\nAs is evident, India is already behaving like a superpower. The argument seems to be: if the US could have its way in almost any part of the world barring a few honourable exceptions, and Russia could annex Crimea and proceed with its \u2018Special Operation\u2019 in Ukraine, why couldn\u2019t India flex its muscles? The question is: has the US and other big powers including China have acquiesced to what India is up to? Has it been provided with the desired space to play ball? What could Pakistan do if tomorrow India becomes a permanent member of UN Security Council or attacks Pakistan to annex AJK or unilaterally make changes to the Indus Waters Treaty?
\nUnder the ensuing possible scenario, therefore, Pakistan must examine its options. To begin with, India must not be underestimated. Pakistan must not forget that it happens to be the only pebble in the shoe as far as India\u2019s overall objectives in the region are concerned. Jayshankar said that Pakistan was \u2018irrelevant\u2019. That does not necessarily mean India has ceased to be an enemy. Similarly, revisiting the 2003 LoC ceasefire agreement should not be construed as a permanent truce. Future false-flag operations must also not be ruled out. Wisdom demands that anticipating any Indian misadventure must form a vital part of Pakistan\u2019s preparedness.
\nIf war is not an option, all stakeholders along with related Think Tanks may like to get together to discuss and come up with a new strategy and a doable plan to deal with the enemy particularly with reference to Pakistan\u2019s principled stand on the Kashmir dispute. That would require some hard work and tough decisions. One of the tough decisions is to separate emotions from ground realities. The other is to follow the age-old pearl of wisdom \u2018keep your friends close and the enemies closer\u2019. Efforts could be made to try changing the present \u2018stale mate\u2019 situation and seek the path of normalisation of relations, leading to recommencing of bilateral trade. Those who propose to normalise relations with India must also tell us a practical modus operendi as well. Easier said than done. To start with, do you have some plan of action to make Pakistan \u2018relevant\u2019 for India? Why would India sit with you on any negotiating table?
\nAnd those who suggest forgetting about Kashmir may first propose how to forget about the past. They may also suggest a way out to do away with the trust deficit both countries are carrying as a monkey on the shoulder.
\nThe best course of action involves the toughest decision. Let Kashmir live on but in the meantime, focus on putting your own political and economic house in order in the real sense of the word. This is the only way you could safeguard your national interests without any outside assistance. Good speeches only inspire. Actions speak louder than words.
\nCourtesy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Najm us Saqib It was Modi\u2019s government. It was Modi\u2019s media. It was Modi\u2019s administration. It was Modi\u2019s fever all over India. How come we didn\u2019t know that it was bound to be Modi\u2019s legal system as well? The cycle is complete now. The Indian Supreme Court has come up with an expected verdict, validating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[12978],"class_list":{"0":"post-376774","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-najm-us-saqib"},"yoast_head":"\n