New
Pakistan with old Kashmir policy
Dr
Shabir Choudhry 20
August 2018
Imran Khan, after becoming new Prime
Minister of Pakistan, delivered two speeches. One in the Parliament, which was
replica of his speeches on container, with allegations and no programme for future.
The second lengthy speech is his address to his nation, in which he spelled out
his programme.
As expected, he did not say anything
about Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which many people say is a ‘jugular vein’ of
Pakistan; and that Pakistan is incomplete without Jammu and Kashmir joining ‘fort
of Islam’.
I have argued with blind followers of
Imran Khan for many years that his policy on Jammu and Kashmir is no different
to other senior Pakistani politicians because this policy together with many
other important policies are made elsewhere; and ‘bloody civilians’ are not
trusted to deliberate on these issues. The new Prime Minister of Pakistan will
have to ensure that he does not cross the red line, like Nawaz Sharif did.
The engineers of New Pakistan must have
told him to stay within his designated boundary, and pretend to be the Chief
Executive like his predecessors did, or be ready to face the music.
Brave captain, a relative of General
Tiger Niazi, gave in, and did not even mention any of the areas that can annoy
the engineers of the New Pakistan.
New Country
Many decades before the arrival of
Captain on the political scene, one British educated man wanted to create a new
country that his fellow Muslims could live in peace and flourish independently.
In pursuit of the new country, Muslims of the united India were divided. The
process of partition resulted in uprooting millions of people. More than half
million were butchered and tens of thousands of women were kidnapped and raped.
The genie of hatred unleashed at that time destabilised the entire region; and
continues to haunt us all.
The people of new country were soon
disillusioned, as their dreams turned into nightmare; and their expectations
were battered. Contradictions, oppression and injustice resulted in a civil war
in 1970, which once again, uprooted millions of people and tens of thousands of
women were kidnapped and raped. According to some estimates around 3 million
people were killed in East Pakistan. The new country of Jinnah was no more, as
Pakistan faced the biggest defeat in history of mankind, in which around 90,000
army surrendered in December 1971.
Another British educated smart man had
his role in creating the impasse and aggravating the situation in which East
Pakistan was created. He came with new slogan roti, kapra aur Makaan, meaning
food, clothes and house for everyone. After break-up of united Pakistan, he
said he will
‘build a new Pakistan’.
His new Pakistan started its new life
with a new geography. In new Pakistan of Bhutto, people of Pakistan, especially
people of Balochistan and various of parts of KPK and FATA suffered immensely
in new Pakistan. Also, people of Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir faced
unprecedented bloodshed and problems due to rulers of new Pakistan; and they
continue to suffer in many ways.
In new Pakistan, which began its life
in 1972, extremism, religious hatred, violence and intolerance was
systematically promoted and exported. This also bitterly hurt people of all
provinces, even the men in uniform. Lives of minorities were made hell.
New Pakistan
The situation in Pakistan got so bad
that even Pakistani army personnel were advised not to travel with uniform
inside Pakistan. At that time, some experts thought Pakistan was becoming
ungovernable.
At that time, the establishment
carefully nurtured another British educated man and launched him with a new
slogan of tabdeeli (change) and a New Pakistan. How ironic, that the new Prime
Minister, who also has controversial background, is going to fight corruption
with many corrupt people in his team. He wants to catch thieves with many experienced
and notorious thieves in his task force. These corrupt people helped Imran Khan
to become Prime Minister, and if he takes action against them or their
associates then he could be out of office. Sad thing is that many people are
brainwashed to believe this.
Most of his cabinet consists of those
who served the army dictator General Musharaf; and Imran Khan has on record
accused them of many wrong doings. Many commentators think the establishment
has a new acceptable face, which will enable them to continue ruling the
country by sitting on the back seat.
I strongly feel that Imran Khan will
make a mess; and will end up landing Pakistan in hot water; and creating more
problems for the people of Pakistan.
Leaving aside what he will do to
Pakistan, my immediate concern is what he will do to people of Azad Kashmir,
Gilgit Baltistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Some citizens of Jammu and Kashmir
think it is good that Imran Khan has not said anything about Jammu and Kashmir
dispute and areas of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir State under their
control. It exposes him and Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir dispute is not their
priority.
My view is that, like his predecessors,
Imran Khan will not have a free hand to deal with Jammu and Kashmir dispute,
and other issues like India Pakistan relations, Afghanistan, nuclear, CPEC and pious
jihadi brothers.
To me that is a sad thing, as it
indicates old policies will continue in the New Pakistan. It means that armed
militants will continue to create havoc in Kashmir and Afghanistan.
Furthermore, it means the Jihadi infrastructure will remain intact; and jihadi organisations
will continue to spread extremism, intolerance, hatred, violence and target
minorities. Also, they will continue to intimidate and harass people of Azad
Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
Writer is a renowned writer and author of many
books. He is also a senior leader of UKPNP and Chairman South Asia Watch,
London.
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