So far in the past, trading of allegations between India and Pakistan skirted around issues of relatively minor importance and did not hit the fundamentals of the crisis. There was a lull in the progress towards bilateral talks following the terrorist attack in Pathankot. But the wave of agitation in Kashmir in the wake of the death of the wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist leader Burhan Wani has led to some intemperate observations by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He praised Burhan Wani as a martyr. What is more, statements have been made by Pakistani leaders, especially Nawaz Sharif, claiming that Kashmir will one day be part of Pakistan. Enough is enough! It is no longer skirmishes across the LoC or the Siachen glacier. It is just not possible for Delhi to put up with such an outrageous statement and in the circumstances prospects of bilateral talks have crashed to the ground. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has emphatically stated that Pakistan’s dream will never be realised. Her stand is a far cry from her guftagu with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad where she put on a green sari to show her amicable attitude. She has said that behind Pakistan’s unabashed encouragement of terrorism lies its delusional though dangerous dream. Kashmir will not be part of Pakistan till ‘the end of eternity’.
The external affairs ministry has listed its accusations against Islamabad. Pakistan exports weapons to terrorists in J&K and infiltrates dirty money into India. This has destabilised the region. Pakistan’s state machinery is in cahoots with the US designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and others. About Islamabad’s charge of violation of human rights by India in J&K, Swaraj pointed out that Pakistan was a fine one to talk as it has used artillery and fighter planes against militants on its own soil. She should be congratulated for her brave words. But more importance attaches to effective joint action by the PDP and the BJP under Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar.
