“India and Pakistan should solve the conflict of Kashmir together, the United Nations is ready to offer its services for that to happen”, he wrote as well. From Christmas Day in Lahore a year ago – when Modi dropped in to wish Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and attend his granddaughter’s wedding – to Independence Day past week, when the PM announced from no other venue than the Red Fort that the continuing unrest in Balochistan as well as Gilgit-Baltistan was now of Indian interest. When innocent people are killed in terrorist attacks, there are celebrations.
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India and Pakistan, both born out of independence from Britain, celebrated their 70th Independence Day a day apart. He appealed to the Centre to put an immediate end to the “bloodshed and atrocities” and said “whatever is happening in Kashmir is badly impacting the image of India and question marks are being put on the Indian claims of democracy”.
“We highly appreciate the fact that PM Modi has raised the issue of Balochistan”. Turkey has supported Pakistan’s proposal that OIC send a team to probe human rights violations.
This view found support from the ministry of external affairs, which had consistently built a narrative around India as the victim of terrorism, which believed in maintaining a distance from Pakistan’s internal strife.
The senior Indian official once again asked Pakistan to discuss the “terror” issue with India and help maintain peace and stability in the region.
However, the prevailing argument within the group was that Islamabad had ratcheted its campaign on Kashmir and New Delhi needed to counter it quickly. Every year both Pakistan and India exchange candies on their independence day but this year India exchanged firing across the LOC. Islamabad dedicated its Independence Day celebrations (on 14 August) to the “freedom of Kashmir”, irking Delhi.
Making a critical remark at India, Sartaj Aziz said India is a large country and this must be acknowledged, but having a large country does not translate into having a great country. India has been avoiding the resolution of Kashmir for decades in a cunning manner.
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“Pakistan is a responsible state and wants good relations with its neighbours but statements of Indian leadership regarding Pakistan are irresponsible”, he said. Instead of blame game India must accept Pakistan’s offer for dialogue and it must stop cross border violations if wishful for peace on borders. If the two countries succeed in eliminating the Balochs from the region, it will be impossible for India to defend itself on this front.
