Pakistan NSA's Advise to India: Win Over Kashmiris the Way we Have in Swat, Balochistan
The NSA's unsolicited advise comes a week after the Indian forces gunned down 13 militants in Kashmir.
Islamabad, April 7: Pakistan's National Security Advisor Nasir Khan Janjua held a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria in a bid to improve the souring ties between the two nations. While marking his dissent on the killing of 13 militants in Kashmir last week, Janjua reportedly advised the Indian envoy to win over Kashmiris in the manner Islamabad has reached out to the restive populace of Balochistan and Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Reacting to the NSA's advise, the Indian envoy said the situation in Kashmir has vitiated not due to the alleged excesses committed by the forces, but due to the infiltration of Pakistani militants, reported HT citing sources.
The retort from Bisaria, although punched a loophole in the NSA's recommendation, missed the point on the atrocities inflicted by Pakistan on Balochistan's indigenous population during the crackdown on Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Jundallah extremists over the past six decades.
Similarly, thousands of civilians were killed and millions displaced during the recent Pakistan military operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban and the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) terrorists in Swat region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting between Janjua and Bisaria is considered to be a thaw in the Indo-Pakistan ties, which struck a rock bottom after Islamabad decided to execute apprehended Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. The execution has been put on hold till the International Court of Justice announces its verdict.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Nasir Ahmed Chaudhary were reportedly miffed at Janjua calling the Indian envoy for talks. The reason for their disappointment is considered to be the timing of the meet: a week after India gunned down 13 local extremists whom Islamabad is referring to as "innocent civilians".
Experts claim that Janjua-Bisaria meeting is part of the framework which was pushed forward by top-level dignitaries of India and Pakistan in October last year. The two sides had then agreed to trade mentally ill jail inmates on either sides , along with fishermen detained for violating the naval borders.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2018 12:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).