Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has formally invited Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to visit the neighbouring country to meet at earliest to discuss the issues confronting the people of the state. The invitation letter from Mr Sharif was handed over to Mr. Geelani by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit during a visit to his (Mr Basit’s) official residence at Delhi’s Tilak Marg on Saturday. The letter pledges Islamabad’s full support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir “on political, diplomatic and moral fronts” in their “struggle for right to self-determination.” The separatist leader flew to Delhi from Srinagar on Thursday. His aide Ayaz Akbar had said that the visit had been necessitated due to health urgency as Mr Geelani who is suffering from multiple ailments needed to go for medical check up there. A spokesman has said that in the letter, prime minister has termed the Kashmir issue, an unfinished agenda of the creation of Pakistan and contended that friendly relations between New Delhi and Islamabad without solving the problem would be nothing but “self-deceit”. The letter also remained adamant over the fact that Pakistan has made it clear to India that there can be no progress on bilateral ties while ignoring the Kashmir issue. PM Sharif is finally taking a stand. He has said that “We want good relations with all our neighbours including India but New Delhi’s unrealistic approach has been a big impediment”- a bold statement to make. He had promised full support to the Kashmiri nation on political, diplomatic and moral fronts, and has reportedly praised Geelani, for his resolve, determination, commitment and straight forwardness. A meeting would naturally be the next step – if it wasn’t for India and its terribly aggressive foreign policy. The Indian media will try its best to paint any contact between the Hurriyat and Pakistan’s government in a sinister light. However, the Indian side has made it clear that it does not want to talk about Kashmir. Obviously then, Pakistan will have to find someone who does want to talk about Kashmir – and that is the Hurriyat. This is a good step towards tackling the elephant in the room. It makes it clear that Pakistan is trying hard to explore all avenues to settle the problem- something that India now just as to deal with. Military aggression is not an option for India, and India will only skirmish at the border. In the end they will have to come to the table. Sooner than later would be wise.
pk.shafaqna.com
