Dubai Investment In Kashmir Leaves Pakistan Whimpering
The Government of Dubai and the Government of Jammu Kashmir have entered into an agreement, which will help the Union Territory to scale new height in Industrialization sustainable growth. This is an important step for the developmental journey of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Piyush Goyal, the Minister for Commerce between the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Government of Dubai for developing industrial sector and business enterprises in partnership ventures.
The papers were signed by Ranjan Prakash Thakur and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani representing the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Government of Dubai, respectively. While Thakur is Principal Secretary in the Department of Industries and Commerce in Jammu and Kashmir, Al Shaibani, is a non-royal government official, serving as director general of The Ruler’s Court, Government of Dubai, a prime government body of the Emirate of Dubai.
The agreement, whose finer business details are not yet available, will be a game-changer in economic development. However the real strength of the deal is the political value attached which is ten times more. The timing of the investment agreement, MoU with the Dubai government is a strong demonstration to the fringe separatist elements and to Pakistan and to the world at large, in the particular context of the August 5, 2019, constitutional changes.
In less than 24 hours after the latest killings of seasonal workers in Kashmir in order to trigger a renewed wave of panic and calling into question the government strategy to handle the emerging situation, the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar had a small yet high profile MoU ceremony. This rare investment partnership with a foreign government is the first such case in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is a clear message to the people that economic development and building peace will go hand in hand. The timing of the investment agreement right in the middle of heightened security concerns is an evident sign of Confidence of the Indian State to defeat the elements hostile to peace.
While the Manoj Sinha administration has scaled up the police security grid across the Kashmir Valley to pin down the militants, it has also ordered immediate measures for moving the workers to safer places. Along with these local procedures of immediate nature, the government has loudly conveyed that it is not going to be cowed down under any circumstances.
The above development has left Pakistan baffled and whimpering. Abdul Basit former Pakistan Ambassador to India said that with the signing of the MoU, it’s clear that Kashmir is out of Pakistan’s hands.
“We are shaking our hands and legs in the dark. We seem to have no Kashmir policy left. It’s sad. The current government’s casual approach will haunt it,” he said.
“Past governments have also contributed to the weakening Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir,” he said.
“This (signing of MoU) is a major success for India in the context of both Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir as OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) members have always kept Pakistan’s sensibilities on Kashmir at the forefront.”
New Delhi is going full speed ahead with its three broader objectives: removing elements of separatism from the political environment by full constitutional integration, showing the world community firmly regarding the constitutional and political status of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and scaling up the life of people by rapid economic development.
The three elements put together will make peace and lasting stability even as work is going on for building internal confidence and restoring institutions of democracy.
