Arun Joshi
Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his first visit to Saudi Arabi after assuming the office has spoken of resolution of Kashmir “ dispute” via dialogue with India in a joint statement released after his meeting with Saudi crown prince and prime minister of kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman.
The statement is simply worded but with a far larger meaning than it appeared to convey .. The joint statement read: “ The two sides ( Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region.”
As it comes out of this statement that Saudi Arabia , the most influential Islamic country in the world, impacting the world affairs economically and also in geo politics , seems to have told Pakistan that it has only one route available vis-à-vis India and that is sitting across the table to resolve its issues from trade to diplomatic ties . This approach is borne out of the realism that has dawned in South Asia , in a particular reference to the abrogation of Article 370 that has fully mainstreamed and integrated Jammu and Kashmir into India . So there is no question of its integration being challenged through any external interference .
At the same time , when the joint statement laid stress on dialogue between India and Pakistan , it was a diplomatic snub to Pakistan that it should stop all its intentions and actions of causing troubles in Jammu and Kashmir by using the tools of terrorism, which continue to be guns and bombs as also the mischievous propaganda through cyber world.. The word dialogue is rebuff to Pakistan , which keeps on making noises at the international forums over the unresolved Kashmir issue , seeking its solution through the implementation of the UN resolutions.
It is worth recalling that Saudi Arabia had not said even a word about the abrogation of Article 370 despite Pakistan requesting it, and later throwing tantrums that it could set up alternative group of OIC – Organisation of Islamic Cooperation . The Kingdom did not like that, and Pakistan had to beseech for restoration of frayed toes. It had to apologize for its words .. This statement has cleared all doubts that the Kingdom has not tilted toward Pakistan on Kashmir.
India is very clear that there is no issue like Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 , and if at all there is an issue that concerns Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir , the territory which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan . There has been a lot of narrative of assertion that “ PoJK for all reasons belongs to India and therefore Pakistan should vacate it . This has been consistent stand of India , but after August 5, 2019, when the integration process of J&K and Ladakh with the rest of the country was completed , the issue of getting back PoJK has figured on the list of top items in the national narrative .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah added a new and positive dimension , when he stated that the entire population of PoJK , whether Muslims or Hindus belong to India,, as he reiterated that all of them were Indians . That meant that the government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not interested in the territory under the occupation of Pakistan, but also the people . Ge demonstrated solidarity with the population on the other side of Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan is also the Indian community .This was the most pragmatic trajectory unveiled on PoJK. India is not having territorial ambitions other than on the territory that constitutionally and historically belong to India – in true sense of the history , entire Jammu and Kashmir as it existed in 1947 before the Pakistan-sponsored invasion of the princely state , belonged to India as the last Dogra king Maharaja Hari Singh acceded the state to India.
Now Jammu and Kashmir , after the August 5, 2019 abrogation of Article 370 , has added two dimensions to its status – one, it is fully integrated to India and all the ifs and buts that existed because of this controversial provision in the constitution , and secondly it rejected all questions about J&K being a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan . Accordingly, the UN resolutions of 1948-49 on Jammu and Kashmir , which envisaged plebiscite for the people of the state to make a choice about their nation of future were flushed down the drain of history once and for all.
