Isolated Pakistan threatens India with ‘decisive reply’ on Kashmir issue

New Delhi| Pakistan Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif, who has been isolated globally in an attempt to raise the Kashmir issue, in his fierce speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Accused India of preparing for a “limited war” and threatened to give a decisive reply.

Sharif claimed that India was preparing for a surprise attack and a limited war as part of a nuclear strike so that it could capture part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He talked about imaginary danger to draw attention towards Pakistan’s story on Kashmir issue. “I want to say in clear words that Pakistan will respond to any Indian attack in the most decisive manner”, the Pakistani prime minister said

This is an inauspicious sign considering the horrors of three wars with Pakistan including the Kargil war. Sharif stressed that “India has uncritically turned down Pakistan’s proposals for mutual, strategic, restrained governance” and that “its leadership has often threatened to cross the Line of Control” and annex the areas it occupies. Sharif stipulated the cancellation of changes made in respect of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 to start negotiations.

On the other hand, India wants Pakistan to stop supporting cross-border terrorism before starting talks.”To ensure lasting peace, India should withdraw the unilateral and illegal measures taken since 5 August 2019 and start negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu  and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people”, Sharif said.

In reality, however, the Government of Pakistan must first withdraw all its troops and infiltrators from Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance with Security Council resolution 47, adopted on 21 April 1948. That resolution also states that Islamabad will not provide money or weapons to terrorists who continue attacks in Kashmir, which Pakistan ignores. None of the world leaders who have spoken so far have even mentioned Kashmir – not even Turkey, which made a minor reference last year.

Seeing himself isolated, Sharif tried to link the Kashmir issue with Palestine, which is the focus of the whole world. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir, like the people of Palestine, have struggled for a century for their freedom and their right to self-determination”, he said. Sharif also talked about the “90,000” Indian soldiers stationed in Kashmir. He alleged that human rights are being violated there and efforts are being made to make Muslims a minority.