Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged New Delhi to have a dialogue on Kashmir, a region claimed by both nations
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on India to engage in dialogue regarding Kashmir, a region claimed by both neighbors since their independence from British rule in 1947. He asserted that resolving the dispute would aid in the development of the region.
Sharif was speaking before the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, which New Delhi refers to as Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). His remarks were made on February 5, when Islamabad historically observes Kashmir Solidarity Day.
“We have always adhered to the principle of peaceful coexistence with our neighbors. We want all disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir, to be resolved through peaceful means based on democratic and diplomatic principles. This is essential for the development and prosperity of billions of people living in this region,” the prime minister explained.
The relationship between Islamabad and New Delhi has been tense for decades; the two neighbors have fought four wars, including one undeclared, and have had numerous border skirmishes. On Wednesday, Sharif urged New Delhi to move past its “mindset” of August 2019, when the Modi-led government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted a certain level of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
This move transformed two border regions – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – into union territories, meaning they are largely governed from New Delhi. India maintains that both regions are an integral part of the country, a claim challenged by both Islamabad and Beijing.
After Article 370 was revoked, Pakistan downgraded its relations with India. Earlier that year, already strained ties between the two neighbors soured further after the deadly Pulwama attack in Kashmir, which killed 42 Indian troops and elicited a strong response from New Delhi, leading to a “surgical strike” against a terrorist outfit in Balakot, Pakistan.
In a veiled attack against the Indian government over its treatment of the Kashmiri population, Sharif argued that the ongoing dispute would not be resolved by “spilling Kashmiri blood, demolishing their homes, carrying out extrajudicial killings, martyring children, torturing, and imprisoning leaders.” The Pakistani PM also urged the international community to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and to ensure the right of self-determination for Kashmiris.
For its part, India has long accused Pakistan of supporting and financing terrorism, both within its borders and in India. “Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism policy will never succeed,” Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said during his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York last year. He vowed that New Delhi would impose “consequences” for actions by Islamabad, indirectly referring to increased militancy in Kashmir in recent months following years of relative calm. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently condemned Pakistan for seeking funding from global financial institutions to sustain a “terrorism factory” despite the country facing a severe economic crisis.
Pakistan meanwhile has recently launched attacks on villages in Afghanistan, with whom it shares a border, citing concerns over terrorist hideouts. Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province in December killed at least 46 people, including women and children. India condemned the strikes.
