Source: My News
Kashmir problem still remains the crucial issue between India, Pakistan
This refers to the statements issued by Zardari (co-chairman of Pakistan People’’s Party) during an interview telecasted on Sunday on an Indian T.V. channel where he intends to put the Kashmir problem on back burner ’till matters improve’ and the wild reactions of Kashmiri leaders from both sides of LOC against this position of Zardari on Kashmir.
It is quite obvious that Zardari considers Kashmir problem as a bipartite issue only between India and Pakistan, while conveniently forgetting that 1,00,000 Kashmiris have laid down their lives for the cause of “Independent Unified J&K” mainly under the fundamentalist leadership of Pakistanis.
Zardari’s such naïve and callous statement, howsoever being lauded in India, will not be taken favorably by any section (which matters politically) in Pakistan. But it certainly points towards a difficult, politically uncertain and destabilizing period ahead for Pakistan especially when one of its influential politician Zardari (who will be at least the de-facto if not the de-jure ruler of Pakistan as the political situation stands presently in Pakistan) has such impractical & ludicrous view on Kashmir, the problem which is extremely important for Pakistan (as it has fought five wars against India for Kashmir) and has every potential of deciding the political fate of SAARC region.
Therefore PPP will do well to ease out Zardari (who has gained political importance not by his hard ground work but simply due to martyrdom of his wife Benazir Bhutto hence will not mind to waste hard earned political capital of PPP) sooner the better from every important position in the party, if PPP does not want further damage to its image & popularity and wants to survive as a politically relevant force in Pakistan.
People in India who think that this statement of Zardari is in India’s favor are politically naïve and are living in their make believe world. Indians should realize that such immature politicians as Zardari (as has been exposed through his statement on Kashmir) cannot do any good either for India or for Pakistan or for stable peace in SAARC region.
More over if any body in India or in Pakistan thinks that the proposed energy corridor as proposed by Zardari (where Pakistan will earn rent as India will get petroleum products from Gulf through Pakistan) will come into existence without first solving Kashmir problem then he still has a lot to learn about politics of this region.
Nevertheless having said this, it is a warning bell to Kashmiris. The Kashmiri leaders from both sides of LOC should not take this matter lightly by merely issuing wild press statements or merely by organizing public meetings, demonstrations, seminars etc. Because it will merely give an impression that such a grave statement of Zardari (which has very serious implications not only in India & Pakistan but internationally) is being resented & challenged by them.
But these hollow postures and gesture will not be effective for time bound solution of Kashmir problem unless Kashmiri leaders make politically effective concerted move to ensure that the martyrdom of 1,00,000 Kashmiris (more than the lives lost by combined India & Pakistan for their freedom from British Raj) does not go in vain.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Abid // Mar 5, 2008 at 5:25 pm
What is the Kashmir issue. Are you a kashmiri. Where is Kahmir. Who are the people of Kashmir
2 Syed Bahadar Shah // Mar 5, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I have see the second faimly of bhutto,s faimly is we don’t know why work togather and for sucses of Pakistan, I think peoples of Pakista are know in these faimly,s some personal problem,s.
Peoples want to see work togather and help of Mr Zardare,
3 Abid // Mar 6, 2008 at 12:16 am
zis iz a gooood idea
4 Varun // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I am an Indian and I whole heartily welcome Mr. Zardari’s statement. Both our countries should work on other major problems like poverty, unemployment and economy instead of spending millions on defense and terrorism. Indias take Pakistanis as friends, we have same roots, why to fight and kill each other for a piece of land. Actually we all should get together and enjoy progress together.
5 noor ahmed // Oct 6, 2008 at 2:42 am
I agreed with Varun, India a scholar country should held referendum in India under UN supervision and respect the decision of the people of occupied Kashmir. He is right we should work on social problems like poverty, unemployment and terrorism. So, now we should give the rights to people of Kashmir to choose what they want. happy
6 Shirull Zaman Khan // Dec 3, 2008 at 12:54 pm
@Varun…..,
we in pakistan appreciate your thoughts and also like to do what you are saying …there should be an effort to bring the populations of both countries out of the poverty curse….but the khasmir valley must be given their right to choose which way they want to go …do you agree with me on this matter ???
so if you do agree with me on this issue then there can be every type of cooperation from our side …….if you dont agree then, it is a matter that we should be talking over first .
thank you for your comments
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