New Delhi, Dec.2 (ANI): Prime MInister Narendra Modi's meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif in Paris, France, was criticised by his political opponents, who said that there was no 'political consensus' in India for such a meeting.
Even the Foreign Office was restrained in reacting to questions on the meeting. It was left to the Pakistani spokesman to react that the meeting was positive and that both the prime ministers were keen on improving relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Sharif had earlier stated that he was willing to have a dialogue with India without preconditions. Speaking to Geo TV on November 28, Sharif said that Pakistan intends to maintain cordial relations with all of its neighbours, including Afghanistan and India.
We should accept the fact that Sharif is not in total control of his country.The Pakistan Army has a major say as far as relations with India are concerned. Even the Pakistan Army is not in total control of the situation in the country. Every day, we hear terrorists indulging in violent activities in different parts of Pakistan. The Pakistan Army also feels that its importance in the country increases by projecting India as a major adversary.
Right from the days of Partition, former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru tried his best to establish cordial ties with Pakistan. The Kashmir conflict occurred when Pakistan invaded the state and the Maharaja of Kashmir sought India's help and decided to accede to India.
On the eve of Kashmir's accession to India, it was Sheikh Abdullah , then a popular leader of the state who persuaded Nehru to accept the Instrument of Accession and send troops to defend the state from raiders from Pakistan.
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Later, when the Indian Army was about to evict Pakistani forces from the whole state, it was asked to leave the present Paksistan-occupied-Kashmir with Pakistan. While no official statement is available, the details are contained in Lt.Gen (Retd), L. P. Sen's book " Slender was the Thread". The brigade he was then commanding was asked to move towards Poonch.
There has again been much debate over the statement made by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will always remain with Pakistan, and areas under the present state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kargil and Ladakh, will remain with India.
The Indian Parliament had passed a resolution unanimously in 1994 that the whole of Kashmir belonged to India. Jammu and Kashmir has some assembly seats which are kept vacant for representing areas under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Dr Farooq Abdullah pointed out that while parliament passed the resolution unanimously in 1994, no action has been taken by the Government of India to reclaim the area under Pakistani occupation.
What Dr.Abdullah said is borne out of the Shimla Agreement entered into by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in July 1972. Zulfiqar Bhutto had pleaded with Indira Gandhi that as the head of a defeated nation, he would not be able to convince his people about the authencity of the agreement if the 93,000 prisoners of war were not returned and the territory captured by India in West Pakistan not restored. He also said that he would gain strength and would convert the Line of Control into an International Border. Bhutto failed to translate his promise and himself became a victim when the army took over.
There has been a great deal of criticism of Dr.Farooq Abdullah for having made the statement.It has been pointed out that even as the Pakistan Prime Minister made the conciliatory statement,there have been attempts at infiltration from across the Line of Control. And, we hear stories of militant mastermind Hafiz Sayeed touring the training centers of militants in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
As Dr. Abdullah pointed out, having security forces along the Line of Control and the International Border to maintain a vigil, can never completely prevent acts of terrorism. He also pointed out that 'the day problems between India and Pakistan are resolved, the Pakistan Army will lose its significance".
Be alert along the Line of Control, while continuing the dialogue with Pakistan.
