Is Jammu and Kashmir going to become part of the new cold war? Dr Shabir Choudhry.

 

Is Jammu and Kashmir going to become part of the new cold war?

Dr Shabir Choudhry. 14 October 2022

The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome has stirred up a political controversy in South Asia during his visit to so - called Azad Kashmir.

Pakistan and pro Pakistan citizens of Jammu and Kashmir like to call this region, occupied by Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, meaning an independent Jammu and Kashmir. By this they mean that the Pakistani occupied territory of the forcibly divided Jammu and Kashmir is independent; and the territory administered by India is occupied, and that needs to be liberated by use of religious card, violence and arms.

In contrast to what Pakistan says, the Indian claim is that the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir is part of the Indian Union; and that Gilgit Baltistan and so-called Azad Kashmir should be liberated from Pakistan.

The new Ambassador of America seems to have plenty of time these days that he toured the so - called Azad Kashmir with his entourage for 3 days. During his long visit he generously used the phrase Azad Kashmir.

Surely, it was not a slip of tongue, as Imran Khan’s followers claim after his blunders. Each word of Donald Blome was calculated and was designed to hit the target. At one time, he highly praised the beauty of so-called Azad Kashmir, and expressed his satisfaction and great potential in this ‘Pakistani province’.

If there was no war in Ukraine or if India had supported NATO and the American policy in Ukraine, Donald Blome may not have visited the so- called Azad Kashmir. If he had visited, the duration of the visit might not have been that long. Moreover, he would not have said what he did during his visit.

As pointed out above, Donald Blome’s words were calculated, and his target was clearly New Delhi. America and some NATO countries expected India to condemn the Russian action in Ukraine. Instead, India chose to remain neutral in this war, and that was not acceptable to America and some NATO countries.

Washington, through Donal Bolme’s visit and carefully chosen words wanted to caution New Delhi that if you want to pursue with this neutrality, then we also have some choices.

In other words, America will raise issues that will hurt New Delhi; and America may use their international clout to influence politics of South Asia, which may not be in the best interests of India.

This clearly shows that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, once again, has become part of the cold war, rather a ‘New Cold War’. Readers may recall that Pakistan ignored the Russian invitation to visit Moscow and decided to visit Washington in May 1950.

Despite this insult, Russia remained neutral in the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. However, Pakistan’s love and obedience to America and Britain had no bounds, and they joined military alliances called SEATO (September 1954) and CENTO (1955) against Russia.

Russia advised Pakistan to stay out of these alliances, or there would be some consequences for Pakistan. The Pakistani leadership was infatuated with love and affection of London and Washington, and under their influence they ignored all that.

Pakistan didn’t have to wait long for the Russian response. In 1955, Nikita Khrushchev visited India, and openly supported India on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Soon after that, India declared Jammu and Kashmir as its integral part.

The world witnessed that Russia, which remained neutral on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute from 1947 to 1995, because of wrong policies of Pakistan twice used its Veto on Kashmir in 1957.

When another American politician, US Congresswoman Illhan Omar visited Azad Kashmir in April 2022, India strongly responded in the following words:

"She visited a part of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan. If such a politician wishes to practice her narrow-minded politics at home that may be her business, but violating our territorial integrity in its pursuit makes it ours." 1

The US Ambassador, Donald Blome said:

"The United States is continuing this strong tradition of supporting Pakistan during times of great need, having thus far contributed more than $66 million in cash, food, shelter, and health assistance in response to the devastating flooding. The US support has included a US military airbridge that delivered lifesaving supplies to the people of Pakistan," said Blome. 2

Ilyas Tanveer, Prime Minister of Pakistani Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, took advantage of this visit and urged the American Ambassador to intervene and “stop India from human rights violations against the innocent Kashmiri people.”

Donald Blome’s visit to so-called Azad Kashmir and utterances have upset many Indians. Brahma Chellany, a strategic thinker and expert said:

“Biden has still no ambassador in New Delhi. But his envoy to Pakistan visits Pakistani-held Kashmir, calling it not “Pakistan-administered Kashmir,” as the UN labels it, but by its Pakistani name, “Azad [Liberated] Kashmir,” though it is racked by a growing independence movement.” 3

America needs to understand that we live in 2022, and the power and influence of ‘Superpowers’ has considerably declined with time. No country in the world is in a position to dictate to other countries that have economic and political stability, national pride and integrity.

The British author, William Dalrymple, in his of book ‘The Anarchy’ – The Relentless Rise of The East India Company’, wrote:
‘Now when a Western Prime Minister visits India, he no longer comes, as Clive did, to dictate terms. In fact, negotiation of any kind has passed from the agenda. Like Roe, he comes as a supplicant begging for contracts and business, and with him come CEOs of his country’s biggest corporations’. 4

Reference:

1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-raises-strong-objection-to-us-envoy-s- visit-to-pak-occupied-kashmir-101665144870106.html

2. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/us-envoy-visits-azad-kashmir-to-promote-us- pakistan-partnership-/2702994

3. https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-has-no-ambassador-in-new-delhi-but-pakistan-envoy- visits-pak-occupied-kashmir-calls-it-azad-11404561.html

4. ‘The Anarchy’ – The Relentless Rise of The East India Company’ page 394