Typical of the Indian antagonistic mind-set, Atal Behari Vajpayee has come out with yet another frivolous outburst vis-é-vis the most perilous global issue é the Kashmir dispute — by setting aside all potential catastrophic scenarios which can set – off any moment é only due to supercilious attitude of the New Delhi warlords é posing a grave threat to peace all around. It appears that Vajpayee & Co are bent upon aggravating the situation in South Asia with the culpable ploy of so-called ‘elections’ in the India held-Kashmir with a singular approach to hoodwink the world é neglecting the reality that India stands fully exposed before the pragmatic nations who are making desperate shuttles to this region ‘just to ensure that a lasting peace is established not only in the best interest of this region but also for the security of the mankind, living beyond oceanic.
New Delhi fully knows that the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir have lashed out such tactics é terming as a hoax — and are fully determined to do so even in times ahead as this is not the sensible course to solve the Kashmir issue in line with the commitments made to the people of this dazzling Himalayan state by the community of nations for well over a dozen time. It is the unanimous resolve of Kashmiris that such a step can in no way be a substitute to the UN commitments for the right of self-determination é explicitly-in the light of the guarantees given emphatically by UN reps. like Gen MacNaughton, Sir Oven Dixon and Gunner Jarring and the proclamation of the UN security council, which had unequivocally resolved twice in 1951 and 1957 that “Srinager ‘Assembly’ has no authority to decide about the future status of the whole or part of the State (of Jammu & Kashmir) and any decision to this effect will be ineffective and void.”
Each and every peace-loving and realistic nation é certainly draws only one conclusion from the nasty rhetoric like the one made by Vajpayee this weekend such an reckless depiction is nothing except a flagrant violation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir and it is obligatory on the World Body é specifically the United States é to take instant cognizance of such a monstrous impend ‘to save the global peace from awful perils. To refresh the stained memory of the Indian belligerents, let me quote here a few resolutions of the United Nations é which may serve as an eye-opener é to coerce India to accept the ground realities é at least for its own billion-plus populace, the majority of which is eagerly looking for a loaf of bread to survive instead of dens of arsenals being collected hysterically by their ruthless rulers.
Isn’t it a fact, Vajpayee-n-Advani that 17 January 1948-through its resolution on 38 é the Security Council é during its 229th meeting é while acknowledging with anxiety had unanimously stressed the need ‘for immediate measures to improve the situation, and to refrain from making any statements and from doing or causing to be done or permitting any acts which might aggravate the situation’ Again on 20 January 1948 é at the 230th meeting, it had constituted a 3-member commission ‘for the maintenance of international peace and security ( facing perils due to the Kashmir dispute). Now look at Resolution no.47, adopted on 21 April 1948 at the 286th meeting of the Security Council, wherein it was observed being strongly of opinion that the early restoration of peace and order in Jammu and Kashmir is essential — and noting with satisfaction that both India and Pakistan desire that the question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through th! e democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite — considering that the continuation of the dispute is likely to endanger international peace and security, reaffirms its resolution 38 (1948) of 17 January 1948 and instructs the Commission to proceed at once — with a view to facilitating the taking of the necessary measures, both with respect to the restoration of peace and order and to the holding of a plebiscite —- to make known to all concerned that the measures provide full freedom to all subjects of the State, regardless of creed, caste, or party, to express their views and to vote on the question of the accession of the State.’
Probably anticipating the hostilities of the Indian warlords, the resolutions had é not only listed the responsibilities of the Plebiscite Administrator but had simultaneously warned India ‘to give full support to the Administrator and his staff and prevent any threat, coercion or intimidation, bribery or other undue influence on the voters in the plebiscite — as an international obligation binding’. It also asked India ‘declare and make known that all subjects of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of creed, caste or party, will be safe and free in expressing their views and in voting on the question of the accession of the State and that there will be freedom of the Press, speech and assembly and freedom of travel in the State, including freedom of lawful entry and exit.’
This resolution added, ‘the Government of India should use and should ensure that the Government of the State also use their best endeavour to effect the withdrawal from the State of all Indian nationals other than those who are normally resident therein or who on or since 15th August 1947 have entered it for a lawful purpose.’
The Commission of the Security Council should at the end of the plebiscite certify to the Council whether the plebiscite has or has not been really free and impartial’, the resolution said by adding.
The Security Council Commission should carry out the tasks assigned to it.’ This too was a unanimous adoption é Okayed– with one voice even by the USA, UK, China, Canada, France Argentina and Syria. This was re-affirmed through Resolution 51 é approved on 3 June 1948 at the 312th meting of the Security Council again on 13 August 1948 by the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan, which re-iterated the resolve that ‘the future status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be determined in accordance with the will of the people’ (of the State). Next came the resolution of 5th January 1949, which said ‘The question of the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite;’ Similar commitments were given by the United Nations on 10 November 1951 and at the 765th meeting of the Security Council 24 January 1957 which re-affirmed that ‘the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expr! essed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.’
It also stressed the need ‘to refrain from any action which may aggravate the situation in the sub-continent or endanger international peace; With all these facts é narrated very briefly, how can Vajpayee and his terrorist-cum-extremist ‘advisor’ can deceive the world by ignoring the reality-reality and reality that Kashmir shall continue to remain an international issue until it is resolved in line with the UN pledges é reflecting the aspirations of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir State.
New Delhi shall have to accept — in totality é that the eyeball-to-eyeball standoff along the borders é ascending due to é the perfidious approach of India shall continue to keep the peace in South Asia at risks. No doubt, it is a hub of anguish for peaceable nations, around the globe, which are making resolute efforts for a way out for the settlement of all the pending issues -between India and Pakistan é with the Kashmir dispute atop – through a mode of dialogue. Contrary to the Indian chauvinistic and intransigent tendency, Pakistan has é time and again – explicitly highlighted the impact of talks, anywhere, anytime and at any levels, which have by now been eschewed by the New Delhi rulers, overlooking the echelon of the cataclysm that may ignite because of the importunate tension in the region.
One hopes that sanity shall prevail on the Indian leadership and they would bend before the ground realities é in the best interest of peace é instead of shutting their eyes, as such an outlook will serve no purpose. It is therefore imperative that all the nations of the world should step in and compel India to respond to the honest efforts of Pakistan in an assenting way instead of resorting the war hysteria, which is in fact evaporating with the advent of the new millennium, in which every erudite soul adores peace and hates catastrophe.
The author is a noted journalist, political analyst and ex-Director News Pakistan TV.
