Pakistani ambassador: Nobody has seen the original copy of document on the annexation of Jammu and Kashmir to India - [color=red]INTERVIEW[/color]
  • POLITICS

  • 14:56 26 October 2021

Pakistani ambassador: Nobody has seen the original copy of document on the annexation of Jammu and Kashmir to India - INTERVIEW

Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee's interview with ONA.

-Every year in October, in Pakistan and Pakistani communities around the world observe Kashmir's Black Day. What does that day mean for Pakistani people?

 

-The Black Day observed by people of Kashmir in Pakistan and across the world on 27th October of the year actually marks the day when the ruler of state of Jammu and Kashmir allegedly signed an instrument of accession with the government of India and expressed his intention that Kashmir should join India.

This was clearly against the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. So, people of Jammu and Kashmir mark this day as a day of protest, considering it as Black Day because the rights to determine their own destiny violated by so-called instrument of accession. There has been a lot of research on that. First of all, I want to give a little bit background. As many brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan know, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the densely populated states in the subcontinent which was given an option to either access India or Pakistan when the subcontinent was divided into two states - India and Pakistan.

And one of the principles which was given to that densely state was to respect the wishes of their people whether they want to join India or Pakistan. The second principle was that they have to see the geographical contiguity of that state rather it was geographically closer to the Indian side or Pakistani side. These were two main principles and based on these principles it was very obvious reason that the state of Jammu and Kashmir would access to Pakistan because around 90 percent of the population of that state is Muslim and they had expressed their desire to join Pakistan. Secondly, that territory is also contiguous to Pakistani territory as we see it on map. The unfortunate thing was the ruler of that state was Hindu Maharaja who colluded with Indian authorities and signed the so-called instrument of accession. But academically it has been researched as of today, nobody has seen the original copy of that instrument of accession. So, people question whether it was a real document or just a document perceived and used by Indian authorities that was signed. And before this document was signed the Hindu Maharaja had entered into a separate agreement with Pakistan which is called the "Standstill Agreement". And because of this Agreement what was agreed between parties that the Maharaja would not take any action that will change the legal status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. So, this action was totally illegal against the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that is why Kashmiri people all around the world observe this day as Black Day.

-Different factors play a role in this dispute, a combination of religious, ethnic and political factors. Are these factors taken into account in finding a solution to the dispute?

Totally agree. This is very important for the international community to understand this is not simply a bilateral dispute, this is not a dispute between India and Pakistan. This is an international dispute it has multifaceted dimensions. So, the first is that this is a international dispute because it is on agenda of UN, there are 11 resolutions and documents of the UN Security Council which called for the UN-mandated plebiscite needs to be held in Jammu and Kashmir giving the people of Jammu and Kashmir their right to determine their future rather they would like to join Pakistan or India, Without holding of fair and free plebiscite no resolution of Jammu and Kashmir can be reached. But above all I would say that India and Pakistan are big countries, they are nuclear powers. And the prolongation of conflict of Jammu and Kashmir was and is real threat not only to South Asia but to the entire global community because God forbid if nuclear clash starts between parties because of this issue it would be very terrible and devastating for global community. Because scientists have projected that kind of nuclear weapons of these countries India and Pakistan posses if they are used in any major conflict they could create havoc not only for South Asia even beyond. Because they could create clouds of smoke for several years, for decades covering the entry of sunlight to the Earth and and destroying agriculture, habitat and so many other things. Nobody favors that issue is allowed any longer to prolong. It is not only India and Pakistan's issue, all the members of UN SC especially, those members who are permanent members, the countries when these resolutions were adopted are still members today. Especially I am talking about 5 permanent members - US, Russia, China, France and UK. So, these are the five permanent members who have always been on the platform of UN SC, they are kind of guarantors because it was their resolutions. It was the collective voice of international community which agreed that resolution of Jammu and Kashmir would be decided according to free and far plebiscite. If it is not implemented, it shows that there is mockery of international law, mockery of international platforms like UN and creating opportunities for certain countries to create destabilization in the region. As you know Pakistan and India also have the largest number of poor people on the world, because of this dispute the people of South Asia have left behind in the struggle for economic empowerment and prosperity. Thus, it is extremely important the resolution of this dispute according to the wishes of Jammu and Kashmir people and in line with UN SC resolutions.

-As we know, China also has claims on Kashmir, but at the same time, it was one of the first initiators of the adoption of UN resolutions on Kashmir. In general, how can China play a role in resolving this conflict?

-Yes, you rightly mentioned China has claims on a certain part of that area which is called Aksai Chin and because of that dispute China and India fought war in 1962. That issue is still disputed and unresolved. And there has been tension off and on between India and China on that border. I think China is a very important and major player in our region. China has huge trade relations with India and China is a strategic partner of Pakistan. So, we believe that China can play a role that can be helpful and conducive in resolving this issue.

-In past years, there have been both clashes and negotiations between Pakistan and India, but this dispute has not yet been resolved ...

-The only major impediment is stubbornness of the Indian regime. Especially the current Indian government has taken the certain steps which take the entire issue to be more complicated. They have tried to take the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of the Indian constitution which provided a unique status of state of Jammu and Kashmir. And since August 2019 the situation has unravel for deterioration for the destabilization.

In fact we see not only in Jammu and Kashmir but other parts of India, the minorities, those communities who are non-Hindus facing new challenges, challenges of their identities, of their patriotism, of their loyalties, of their very existence as citizens of India. Because questions asked about whether non-Hindu can remain a loyal citizen of India. There are changes in citizenship act making many non-Hindus as stateless people.

Now they have given an idea of "Mahabarta" which actually threatens very existence of neighboring states of India not only Pakistan but Bangladesh, Sri- Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal. Because according to that great India conception not other states have right existence but India with Hindus as the main citizens. This is a major challenge in the region and until approach is not changed, the approach of tolerance, peaceful co-existence is adopted, peace cannot come to the region.

Pakistan has always sincerely trying and endeavoring to resolve this issue peacefully. As you rightly mentioned in the early days of partition - Pakistan and India became two independent states, our PM, our senior leaders of that time held very candid talks. That time the leadership of India, until Mr. Nehru they had expressed their intention that they want to resolve of the issue according to the UN resolutions. But later on the situation changed as India thought that they becoming bigger market in the eyes of international community and they could attract the international market towards their country because of the big size of population their position started to become rigid and rigid. So, there have been many endeavors in the past and even in recent past not a few years ago Pakistan and India had mechanism which was called "comprehensive dialogue" mechanism in which the issue of Kashmir was the core issue but there were many other issues like terrorism, water disputes, other disputes, so everything was on the table and Pakistan was very sincere and genuine in its desire.

We should resolve all disputes because it is a clear understanding that if we need make progress, if we need economic prosperity in the region we will have to resolve these issues because without resolutions of these issues people of South Asia will remain in trap in vicious cycle of poverty.

In response what we got was each time India cheated and retracted from the dialogue process. So, there was discussion how to make this dialogue uninterruptible and continuous process.

You know Pakistan has always called for result-oriented dialogue, dialogue which can be lead to some solutions it should not be broken half-way.

So far, this issue has not been resolved. Problem with India is when we take the matter to the UN, international fora India says that this is a bilateral dispute, when we offer a bilateral dialogue India refuses that they do not want to hold dialogue with Pakistan. This is kind of difficult and rigid approach. And we believe that the role of international community is extremely important because they see the pros and cons. This region of South Asia is bigger market and together it offers much better potential economic engagement with international community or it is left on their own in a vicious cycle of war and dialogue. I think this is not best option the international community must understand if they talk about human rights, respect of international law in today's world they need to start and implement these principles on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and while engaging with India. Because India is a market of over one billion people. When we talk to the international friends in different countries and remind them that on the one hand you talk about human rights and respect for international law, why you do not put pressure because US and many European countries they have good relations with India.

Zumrud Pashkin

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