JK News Today Commentary
In a recent interview with a news agency, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a valid point: Pakistan needs to reassess its strategy vis-a-vis India as it could face war if it continued with inimical intention and action against this country.
This sagacious suggestion was made in the wake of what happened after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 and Operation Sindoor that was launched to punish the perpetrators and backers of the terrorists involved in the carnage.
Now, the ball is in the court of Pakistan. The neighbouring country has been told to roll back cross-border terrorism directed against India and to dismantle its terror infrastructure and allied services.
A new doctrine has been put in place by the Narendra Modi government: any act of terror will be treated as an act of war Another clarity has also been made that no distinction between the sate and the non-state actors would be made That is India had launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir, but since Pakistan escalated the situation, India had to respond in kind, forcing Islamabad to request for ceasefire.
This kind of warning against planning and executing cross-border terror attacks has been delivered to Pakistan umpteenth time, but it makes greater sense when Omar Abdullah, the elected chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir makes it.
There is a reason .In the present context, he is where he is, because of the massive mandate of the people of the Kashmir Valley. His party received a huge support and vote from the people in the 2024 Assembly polls. He is elected voice of Kashmir. There is no question of ifs and buts.
Secondly, Omar Abdullah is a scion of the first political family of Kashmir. The party that he represents or symbolizes has been a pivot in the state of Jammu and Kashmir for almost nine decades – both in negative and positive frames. That should give weight to his words and understood in proper perspective. Yes, there is a historical baggage of his party- National Conference, which he cannot unburden himself f in a day, but that doesn’t mean that his words should be taken lightly. His words should be taken seriously.
Omar made two very important observations: No matter what we do, if Pakistan is intent is inimical, then we will never fully achieve a terror-free J&K, and that onus was now on Pakistan to reassess its strategy against the backdrop of government of India setting a very low bar for what constitutes an act of aggression.
Perhaps, he was talking in terms of Pakistan to cease all its terror activities directed against India, in particular Jammu and Kashmir, to avoid any reprisals. This is the fundamental issue. Pakistan has been sanitized about it by almost all the governments since 1990.
The best reference point to this is the joint India-Pakistan statement issued on January 6, 2004 in which Pakistan pledged not to use its soil and the territories under its control for any terror activities against India. This statement has its historic significance. History has its relevance; it can neither be wished away nor washed away.
The Modi government has added new dimension to it: any terror attack would be treated as an act of war and responded accordingly. It can be understood better in the context that Operation Sindoor is on pause, and not ended. The operation can be re-invoked if Pakistan longs for any misadventure against India or any of its territories.
After the abrogation Article 370, the Government of India, believes that Pakistan is left with no reason speak or agitate about Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir’s status under Article 370 that placed barriers between the Himalayan state and the rest of the country is gone forever. Therefore, terror activities designed from Pakistani soil and executed on this side of the border or Line of Control is not only futile but loaded with a risk of war.
It also translates into something magnificently significant – if Pakistan stops terror, it can live without fear of war. It is demand of a good behaviour.
Omar, as a man from Kashmir, has joined the country’s leadership, in amplifying the dangers of war, while asking Pakistan to behave as a normal neighbour. This is perhaps a copy book style of telling Pakistan that as rising of Kashmir issue at international forums gets stern response from India; it will now be translated into drones and missiles to the use of guns and bombs on the Indian soil.
Omar has raised question on the intent of Pakistan, advised against nurturing inimical version of it against India. That is the most difficult part. For that Pakistan needs a credible leadership that should not only shut its universities and nurseries of radicalization but wipe it out from the psyche of the nation. Pakistan should have the confidence that it can exist, and that too with dignity, if it gives up its campaign on Kashmir and anti-India diatribe
