Pakistan’s latest talks offer on Kashmir
It is highly unlikely that India would respond positively to Pakistan’s latest offer
This writer is a senior foreign affairs correspondent at The Express Tribune
Pakistan observed the Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5. The day is observed annually since 1990 when late chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed first floated this idea to express support to the Kashmiris. Occupied Kashmir has remained a thorn in the relationship between Pakistan and India since 1947. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have fought wars, and intermittent rounds of talks have failed to break the deadlock.
What changed of late was that India made Kashmir a “non-negotiable” issue after it unilaterally revoked the special status of the disputed territory. The August 5, 2019 move was also in violation of the 1972 Shimla Accord that prohibits both countries from changing the status quo till the final settlement. The unilateral step coupled with Modi government’s approach diminished any chances of a dialogue between the two countries on the Kashmir dispute. Prime Minister Imran Khan, though, before the re-election bid of Modi thought that the hardline Indian leader might be good for taking unpopular decisions. But contrary to his expectations, PM Modi, emboldened by the heavy mandate second time around, did exactly the opposite. What happened post-August 5, 2019 saw the bilateral relationship dip further. PM Imran, who earlier was willing to go the extra mile to resolve all festering issues with India, took the attack to Modi, branding him as Hitler.