JK News Today Commentary
Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Friday delivered few fundamental lessons to his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Zardari Bhutto who warned against “ weaponing terrorism” and condemned hosting of G20 meeting in Srinagar, Kashmir, later this month . And one of the fundamentals spelled out by Jaishankar was that “ terrorism can neither be normalized nor legitimized” and with an added emphasis he stated that “ victim of terrorism ( that is India) cannot enter into dialogue with the perpetrators of terrorism.”
As was expected and anticipated in many quarters before the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation , a multilateral forum in which two big powers China and Russia are among the members, that Indo-Pakistan relations would dominate the meeting , it turned out to be like that.
Pakistan had to be told at the SCO meet that terrorism is a big menace and it cannot be tolerated . It must end for the normal relations , and second that terrorism is a menace that has to be fought to attain peace and stability in the region . That’s what Dr S Jaishankar did during the course of his remarks as chair of the meet. India is holding SCO presidency at the moment .
Three essential issues came up at the summit and on its sidelines . One , terrorism and how it should be fought . Second the status of Jammu and Kashmir, and thirdly, the hosting of G 20 side meeting in Srinagar, Kashmir. All these three issues concern India and Pakistan , and it is well known that the two not only disagree but they are hostile to each other on these issues .
The Indian Foreign Minister made certain things very clear at his press conference, at the conclusion of CFM meet of the SCO, that Pakistan has no locus standi on Jammu and Kashmir .He told Pakistan that as far as terrorism is concerned , Pakistan should not lecture others. He went on to describe Bilawal Zardari Bhutto as “ a promoter , justifier and spokesperson of terrorism industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan , his positions were called out and countered including at the SCO meeting itself.” Regarding G 20 meeting in Srinagar, scheduled to be held from May 22 to 24 , Jaishankar’s assertion was rooted in realism.” Pakistan has nothing to do with the G 20, and I must say they have nothing to do with Srinagar, and the only issue that remains is that of the vacation of Pakistan occupied Kashmir by Pakistan.”
He also maintained that Article 370 is a history, signnalling that the changes that have been made in the constitution to fully integrate J&K with the rest of India are irreversible . And, he reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir was , is and will be integral part of India. That is the stated , and the internationally acknowledged position .
Jaishankar’s press conference in which all the charges leveled by Bilawal Bhutto were rebutted but also he was given lessons in diplomacy. He made it clear whether the revival of the talks or sports activities are concerned cannot be held with a country which sponsors and promotes and exports terrorism . He also reminded Pakistan that its credibility is depleting faster than its foreign reserves.
