Pakistan Is Totally Anti Kashmiris
Last month a MoU for real estate and infrastructure development was signed between government of J&K and UAE. In addition Go first Airways was granted flights between Srinagar to Sharjah, four times a week starting 23 October. Clearance was also accorded by Islamabad for use of air route over Pakistan for these flights.
Next, On November 1, GoFirst entered into an agreement with Lulu Group, one of Dubai’s biggest retail business houses for shipping Kashmiri apples, handicraft items and other local products to various markets in the Middle East. While signing the agreement, Lulu Group Director Salim M A noted that there were “immense opportunities that we have for the exports from J&K” and gave an assurance that “As Lulu, we will be able to take a lot of fruit, vegetables and antique and craft and a lot more items. We assure you that we will do our best to export goods from Kashmir.”
Suddenly realizing that economically prosperous Kashmir will shun Pakistan completely, the very next day on Nov2, Islamabad closed its airspace for GoFirst airways without assigning any reasons. Thus by denying overflight clearance to GoFirst Pakistan has successfully ‘sabotaged’ the ambitious plans to market made in Kashmir products in Middle East. This ban will essentially make Kashmiri horticulture and artisan products costlier and so deprive the a golden opportunity to capture Middle East markets. Such hostile reactions of Pakistan State to the recent developments in Kashmir should serve as an eye-opener for the few existing pro-Pakistan lobby in Srinagar.
It seems that Islamabad is upset with India-UAE deepening friendship in all spheres and its anguish can be seen from former high commissioner of Pakistan to India Abdul Basit’s comments on the MoU that “This is a major success for India in the context of both Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir as OIC members have always kept Pakistan’s sensibilities on Kashmir at the forefront. “
So in anger over the Indo-UAE agreement, Islamabad has gone back to throwing tantrums and decided to close down its airspace for GoFirst within 24 hours after this airline signed an agreement with Lulu Group, without even bothering about its adverse effects on the people of Kashmir.
In 2009 also after according clearance to Air India’s direct flight from Srinagar to Dubai, Pakistan had abruptly closed its airspace for this flight. The long detour to bypass Pakistani airspace made this flight economically unviable and thus had to be suspended. This could well happen this time too as the detour to avoid Pakistani airspace involves additional 90 minutes flying time, which would hike fares and possibly result in this flight also being suspended.
It is thus absolutely clear that by closing its airspace for flights, Islamabad is harming the prospects of Kashmiri farmers and artisans getting better prices and larger markets in the from Middle East. So the pro-Pakistan lobby needs to be clear that Islamabad is really not a well wisher of Kashmiris, that is why it is denying them a chance to sell their products in foreign markets by closing its airspace to flights originating from Srinagar.
Meanwhile Pakistan is mounting external debt which is driving the country to the brink of financial disaster. Further a deal struck with proscribed parties like Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, and likelihood of another one with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists, will surely bring Islamabad down to its knees. Yet, everyday Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan or party member his express concern on what Islamabad’s jaundiced eyes perceive as ‘oppression’ of Kashmiris.
Islamabad’s prejudiced mindset perceives any positive development for the people of Kashmir as threat to its own grand designs. Denying the advantages of low-cost international air connectivity to the people of Kashmir by closing its airspace is clear indication that for Islamabad, impoverished Kashmiris are more beneficial than prosperous ones as its very easy to use the former as pawns in its proxy war against India.
The pro-Pakistan lobby must know that Islamabad neither has no legal grounds to claim J&K, nor the military capability to wrest its control. Those at the helm of affairs in Pakistan know this and are well aware that Kashmir is a dead issue, but for obvious reasons are not willing to accept this. So, all that Pakistan can do is to keep the Kashmir pot boiling by inciting violence- and since it’s Kashmiri blood that’s being spilled, it does not matter to Islamabad.
