India and Pakistan are at it again — verbally attacking and provoking each other to escalate tensions between the two sides even further.
Problems between the archrivals heated up after the recent deadly Quetta bombing that was initially blamed on India as an attempt to derail the CPEC project. In the backdrop of a resurgence in Kashmir movement, Pakistan has also been raising the issue of Indian aggression in the valley at the highest diplomatic levels. It would have been naïve to expect India to stay mum and not counter Pakistan’s moves. In a highly-charged speech to mark India’s Independence Day celebrations, Modi has called on Pakistan to give “answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against people in Balochistan” and Azad Kashmir.
Modi’s remarks are regretful and will clearly negatively impact the already fragile relations between the two neighbors. Such verbal bashing of Pakistan and blatant reference to the country’s internal matters is unprecedented and breaches all diplomatic norms.
Interestingly, Pakistan has for long been accusing India of fomenting violence in the restive Balochistan province. Modi’s senseless outburst is perhaps aimed at inciting ethnic tensions across the border and diverting global attention from recent Kashmir violence. To some, his speech is even self-incriminating. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the Indian PM stepped over the red line and his comments were “an admission of Indian state’s involvement in perpetrating and financing terrorism in Balochistan.”
Modi went on to further say that people of these oppressed areas in Pakistan had thanked him for highlighting the human rights violations committed by security forces. Indeed, some Baloch separatists have welcomed Modi’s statements and asked the world community to note “the ethnic cleansing and genocide being committed by Pakistani authorities.” However, the civil society and majority of Baloch leaders have dismissed his provocative speech and termed it counter-productive to their cause.
In recent years, the case of missing people and deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan has gained wide media coverage in Pakistan and efforts are being made to reduce sense of marginalization in the province. Any association with India will only create new suspicions and hurt the legitimate struggle of the Baloch people.
In the interest of peace, both India and Pakistan need to show maturity and refrain from meddling in domestic affairs of each other. Keeping in mind the Indian atrocities in Kashmir, Modi has no moral right to denounce Pakistan for its sovereign matters. The best approach is to find a common ground and build trust to reach a consensus on all outstanding issues. The Indian government has conditionally accepted a fresh peace talks offer with Pakistan, but insisted that the focus of dialogue should be on “contemporary and relevant issues,” such as terrorism.
Their acrimonious relationship is underlined by the Kashmir dispute and no dialogue can be fruitful unless progress is made in resolving this thorny issue. This lack of willingness to resolve the main dispute that haunts their bilateral ties is alarming and hangs the future of South Asia in doubt.
Problems between the archrivals heated up after the recent deadly Quetta bombing that was initially blamed on India as an attempt to derail the CPEC project. In the backdrop of a resurgence in Kashmir movement, Pakistan has also been raising the issue of Indian aggression in the valley at the highest diplomatic levels. It would have been naïve to expect India to stay mum and not counter Pakistan’s moves. In a highly-charged speech to mark India’s Independence Day celebrations, Modi has called on Pakistan to give “answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against people in Balochistan” and Azad Kashmir.
Modi’s remarks are regretful and will clearly negatively impact the already fragile relations between the two neighbors. Such verbal bashing of Pakistan and blatant reference to the country’s internal matters is unprecedented and breaches all diplomatic norms.
Interestingly, Pakistan has for long been accusing India of fomenting violence in the restive Balochistan province. Modi’s senseless outburst is perhaps aimed at inciting ethnic tensions across the border and diverting global attention from recent Kashmir violence. To some, his speech is even self-incriminating. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the Indian PM stepped over the red line and his comments were “an admission of Indian state’s involvement in perpetrating and financing terrorism in Balochistan.”
Modi went on to further say that people of these oppressed areas in Pakistan had thanked him for highlighting the human rights violations committed by security forces. Indeed, some Baloch separatists have welcomed Modi’s statements and asked the world community to note “the ethnic cleansing and genocide being committed by Pakistani authorities.” However, the civil society and majority of Baloch leaders have dismissed his provocative speech and termed it counter-productive to their cause.
In recent years, the case of missing people and deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan has gained wide media coverage in Pakistan and efforts are being made to reduce sense of marginalization in the province. Any association with India will only create new suspicions and hurt the legitimate struggle of the Baloch people.
In the interest of peace, both India and Pakistan need to show maturity and refrain from meddling in domestic affairs of each other. Keeping in mind the Indian atrocities in Kashmir, Modi has no moral right to denounce Pakistan for its sovereign matters. The best approach is to find a common ground and build trust to reach a consensus on all outstanding issues. The Indian government has conditionally accepted a fresh peace talks offer with Pakistan, but insisted that the focus of dialogue should be on “contemporary and relevant issues,” such as terrorism.
Their acrimonious relationship is underlined by the Kashmir dispute and no dialogue can be fruitful unless progress is made in resolving this thorny issue. This lack of willingness to resolve the main dispute that haunts their bilateral ties is alarming and hangs the future of South Asia in doubt.
