The Hindu : Islamabad's policies will have to change, says Sinha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 16, 2003

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Islamabad's policies will have to change, says Sinha

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI MARCH 15. Pakistan's "illogical and self-defeating" policies towards India "cannot last for ever" and Islamabad "will have to change', the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, said today.

"It (Pakistan) cannot remain forever on the wrong side of history. The military in Pakistan cannot suppress the yearnings of its people for a better and more normal life indefinitely," Mr. Sinha stressed.

Addressing the 29th convocation of the Punjabi University, Patiala, he said Pakistan should first provide its own people with the right to self-determination before it sought to sermonise others. The only issue that remained to be resolved between India and Pakistan was that of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), he said, adding that Islamabad could never have parity with New Delhi as far as "locus standi" on Kashmir was concerned since Pakistan was the aggressor.

Focusing on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he said that the accession of J&K to the Indian Union was entirely lawful and in full accordance with provisions of relevant laws. Providing a background to the issue, Mr. Sinha stated that in October 1947 it was Pakistan which sent tribal invaders into J&K, following it up with regular troops. "Faced with an act of such blatant aggression, it was India which decided in January 1948 to take the matter to the United Nations. There are those who argue that this decision was a big mistake. This is, however, an issue for historians to debate. My point here is that the roots of India-Pakistan differences over J&K derive from this act of aggression," the text of his speech said.

Referring to Pakistan "whining" about India's failure to implement the U.N. resolutions on Kashmir, Mr. Sinha stressed that a three-step formula — a ceasefire, a truce agreement, and plebiscite — had been agreed to be implemented by both countries in sequential order. India, he said, had also made it clear that Pakistan was also required to withdraw its troops and try to secure the withdrawal of tribesmen and Pakistani nationals from J&K, that Pakistan be excluded from all affairs relating to the region and the so-called "Azad J&K Government" not be recognised, among other things.

"Till today, neither the conditions nor the assurances have been fulfilled by Pakistan...further, instead of withdrawing Pakistani troops and other nationals from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as called for by these resolutions, Pakistan introduced huge quantities of military equipment and armed forces into PoK..."

Referring to the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir and its reaffirmation of accession, he said the people of the State had regularly exercised their democratic rights. "There were also many other subsequent developments that constituted a material change in the situation rendering the UN resolutions irrelevant and incapable of implementation."

"In the above context, let me also point out that India and Pakistan agreed in 1972 under the Shimla Accord to resolve all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, bilaterally," he said, adding that this provided the "framework for the India-Pakistan relationship today and supercedes previous arrangements". "And, should agreements as sacrosanct as the Shimla Accord and the Lahore Declaration come under challenge, then all treaties between the two countries will automatically also come under question."

Pakistan, he said, had ruled PoK as a "colony" and its championing the cause of self-determination was nothing but a crude attempt to bolster its agenda of territorial aggrandisement through terrorism against India. "There have never been free and fair elections in PoK and the ruling parties in Pakistan have repeatedly manipulated elections in favour of its allies, ensuring the subservience of local political leadership," he remarked.

In the Northern Areas (which Pakistan treats differently from PoK), administration was directly controlled by Pakistan and many political groups had no option but to remain underground. "Even peaceful protests have led to arbitrary arrests and long jail terms. Demonstrations by students in Gilgit, struggling against high unemployment, have been crushed and there have been many reports of brutal suppression of dissenting voices. For a country which indulges in such gross violations of human rights, to talk of self-determination is nothing but short of hypocrisy."

India, which had extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan, had been met with aggression and proxy war, Mr. Sinha felt. "Pakistan's policy of sponsoring cross-border terrorism is nothing but an effort to unilaterally alter the status quo on the ground and try to undermine India's secular fabric."

"India has always been willing to discuss the issue of J&K with Pakistan. But, Pakistan seeks parity with India in terms of locus standi on Kashmir.

``Pakistan is the aggressor. It cannot have parity with India. Pakistan is in illegal occupation of a part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The only issue that remains to be resolved is, therefore, the question pertaining to this illegal occupation and domination of the people of this area by the military establishment based in Rawalpindi, which derives its justification for disproportionate perks and privileges, and avoiding accountability, through manufactured causes and mythical enemies."

Stating that India bore no ill-will to the people of Pakistan, Mr. Sinha said the priority for both the people of India and Pakistan was economic development and elimination of poverty. "It is absolutely tragic that Pakistan's policies towards India are based on hatred and compulsive hostility. Unfortunately, the complete domination of Pakistan's politics and economy by the military prevents choice of policies that would respond to popular needs and aspirations. If only Pakistan would be willing to shed hostility and stop using terrorism as an instrument of national policy, there can still be a new dawn in our relationship," he added.

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