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Foreign Affairs

J&K continues to be an unsolved dispute

6 Oct, New York
Despite the heavy umpteen physical fightings and skirmishes as well as trading of charges in different quarters between India and Pakistan for more than six decades, it seems the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir still has have to pass through innumerable ups and downs to see a clear end. And, moreover, a very heartbreaking part-the tussle between the two regional powers has not only thwarted the stability in the region but also has ushered ordeals to the people of J&K costing many lives including the security personnel from both sides. Though India has been consistently rejecting, a new fear has also emerged -‘J&K increasingly being a haven for terrorist activities especially by Al Qaeda and Taliban’.

Contemplating this danger, it has been many years, international community has been calling upon to resolve the crisis as soon as possible through bilateral means. As India and Pakistan are not in mood to be flexible and find a common solution, bilateral attempts are proved to be “futile talks”. On this ground, a sense of need for active international role, especially by the United Nations, deemed as the only independent powerful world body till date, is felt in many quarters of the world including Pakistan. India has outrightly rejected for any type of UN role. As a rising power and an important ally in South Asia, the West allegedly seems of not wanting to pressurize India for the international resolution on J&K crisis. United Nations has also made clear that until and unless requested by both parties [India and Pakistan], it cannot do anything regarding the J&K crisis. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on his latest press briefing said, ” As far as the role of good offices [to resolve J&K crisis] is concerned, the United Nations normally takes that initiative when requested by both parties concerned.”

But according to the Resolution 47 adopted by United Nations Security Council on 21 April 1948, “the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.” This resolution adopted after the first war broke between India and Pakistan in disputed territories of J&K, also imposed an immediate ceasefire and called on Pakistan to withdraw all military presence. The resolution allowed India to retain a minimum military presence and stated that Pakistan would have no say in J&K politics.

But since then, many waters flowed in Indus river and India and Pakistan fought two wars. Neither, Pakistan has been stopping ‘having its say’ regarding the crisis nor India has hold the plebiscite. India claims the democratic election and the autonomy it has rendered to J&K substitute plebiscite.. But still the fighting and protest against Indian rule has not stopped yet. Former Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf’s recent comments accepting that Pakistan provides training to the ultras to fight in J&K, have also been addendum to lit the fire of India’s accusation that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism.

 UNGA forum for exchanging ‘cross fires’

This year General debate session of the General Assembly became a forum for India and Pakistan trading charges regarding J&K crisis. Pakistani diplomats accused India of interfering the will of Kashmiri people and questioned ” The country which doesn’t stop delivering speeches and teaching lessons for others, why don’t it better focus on its own matter? Is it reasonable for a country, which didn’t accept UN resolution to hold plebiscite, to be in UN Security Council ? “.

Watch the video of Pakistan comments :

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/09/right-of-reply-pakistan-2-general-debate-65th-session.html

India outrightly fought back the comments and warned Pakistan of not trading such “undiplomatic allegations”.

Watch the video of India’s reaction :

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/09/right-of-reply-india-2-general-debate-65th-session.html

Before that addressing the 65th session of UNGA, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammed Qureshi spawn his country’s view that a peaceful solution according to the UN resolution and taking into consideration the will of Kashmiri people will only create a conducive atmosphere for durable peace and stability in the region. He reiterated Pakistan’s demand of holding plebiscite under UN auspices.

On the other hand, Indian External Minister SM Krishna explained the recent exercise for elections in J&K as an effort towards Kashmiri’s people right-to-self determination and a substitute for plebiscite. Krishna also added that J&K is an integral part of India and also warned that India won’t tolerate any international interference on this issue.

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