Ostrich’s in Pakistan foreign office still unable to see reality

PM Narendra Modi recently visited Srinagar, his first visit since the temporary Article 370 of India’s constitution was finally removed after decades. People thronged to welcome him but beggared Pakistan once again behaving like famed Ostrich birds dismissed the move as “part of India’s efforts to portray normalcy” in the “disputed region.”

The disputed region is Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, which sooner than later will now be re-joined with rest of Jammu & Kashmir.

The PM announced ₹5,000 crore worth of schemes for the farming sector and the Govt is determined to increase cold storages and warehouses in the Union Territory. That India is the third large economy (in PPP terms) is showing in Jammu & Kashmir also. The UT is progressing at a fast pace.

There are two AIIMS, seven medical colleges, and two cancer hospitals now. Two Vande Bharat trains already ply in Kashmir valley. Jammu and Srinagar are becoming smart cities and new projects are in the offing. Soon the World’s highest rail bridge will become operational, connecting Baramula to Kanyakumari.

The success story of Kashmir is attracting attention world over, Kashmir Valley and Patnitop areas in Jammu region are now emerging as a winter sports capital. “Around 1,000 athletes from the country participated in the Khelo India Winter Games. There are multi-purpose indoor halls in 17 districts in J&K.

Making a political statement Modi said “There is a historic connection of the lotus with Kashmir. In fact, J&K has a deep relation with lotus as well as the BJP,” the PM said, referring to the nadru (lotus stem), which is cooked in the Valley. 

Speaking on the occasion, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha highlighted the developmental initiatives taken up in Kashmir after the abrogation of the temporary Article 370 of the Indian Constitution by the Indian Parliament.

“No more youth are hit by pellets or lose their sight. No innocents get killed. Youth have laptops rather than stones in their hands. The ecosystem of terrorism has been dismantled. We always said that we will not buy peace but establish peace in Kashmir,” Mr. Sinha said.

He also highlighted the return of late night life in Kashmir. “We have pedestrian markets like Europe and the beautiful Jhelum river front under the Smart City initiative. Not only locals but tourists also visit these places. The tricolour at Lal Chowk is witness to the change in Kashmir,” he added.

However Paki politicians and Paki Media instead of worrying about their own bankruptcy are still behaving as if it is the Pakistani Constitution which has been abrogated by India. They even cannot digest the ground development so visible everywhere. The Paki Govt says “We believe that these efforts to project normalcy are a facade and tourism cannot be promoted in a situation where local people are being intimidated and their rights and freedoms are being denied,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in her weekly press briefing on Thursday.

The Indian government had stripped the Kashmir valley of its terror eco apparatus built with state sponsoring from Pakistan over so many years. Terror supporters who had been making fool of the locals and living off the land are finally being made to pay for their sins. Economic development has taken te front seat and grassroots people have started reaping the benefit of development.

Taking pride in removing the dynastic politics in Kashmir of few entrenched families the Prime Minister said at a public rally in Srinagar “I am working hard to win your hearts, and my attempt to keep winning your hearts will continue,” with locals cheering Jammu and Kashmir is not just a region, it is the crown of the country,” PM Modi told the rally in a stadium.

Though as usual, Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of held Kashmir, accused the government of organising buses to bring in crowds, alleging that “almost none” would be attending willingly.

Modi also remotely inaugurated a slew of development projects and government schemes for boosting agro-economy and tourism in held Kashmir and other parts of India. The projects included new infrastructure around the revered Hazratbal famous Shrine of the Muslims in the city.

Due to security scenario created by Pakistani sponsored terrorism the last local elections could be held in Jammu & Kashmir only in 2014. However now terrorism has been nearly eliminated and elections will soon be conducted by the Election Commission of India.

Central government direct rule of Jammu & Kashmir has brought about a new era of peace and development. This us in stark contrast to what is happening in Paki Occupied Kashmir and Paki Occupied Baltistan. In fact Paki Occupied Balochistan has already started an armed Liberation movement.

When asked about the new government’s policy on ties with India, Ms Baloch of Pakistan Foreign Ministry responded with a blend of cautious optimism and steadfast priorities. Imagine, comments on a Country like India when Pakistan still awaits the formation of its new cabinet, and the appointment of new foreign minister.

The first task the Foreign Minister must concentrate should be defining the trajectory of Pakistan’s diplomatic interactions with IMF rather than commenting on India. As a country Pakistan is not even a blip on New Delhi’s radar.Though desire for harmonious relations with India will always be welcomed.

Though India is concentration on rapid economic progress, Paki Occupied Kashmir will remain a pivotal point in all future diplomatic stance with Pakistan, and with any other country trying to speak in support of Pakistan.