Islamabad: – Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that no talks are possible with India unless Article 370, awarding special status to Kashmir, is reinstated. The Pakistan media is claiming that this announcement is an attempt to a coverup by making a U-turn. Two days ago, Pakistan Foreign Minister had said that Article 370 is an internal Indian issue. There was an uproar in Pakistan after that, and accusations were rife that the Imran Khan government in Pakistan has made a deal with India regarding Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Qureshi had to cover up the act.
Pakistan military chief General Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Saudi Arabia. Discussions are rife in the media of this country that Saudi Arabia presented a proposal to compromise from the Indian side to Pakistan. The Prime Minister and military chief accepted the proposal. Some Pakistani journalists are assertive that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and military chief General Bajwa are prepared to cooperate with India, setting the Kashmir issue aside. In the meantime, Foreign Minister Qureshi shocked everyone with his statement that Article 370 is an internal Indian issue.
These statements made by Qureshi during an interview with a news channel raised controversy in Pakistan. There was an uproar in the media, saying that the Pakistan government has given up on the Kashmir issue. Reports of talks, starting on an undeclared level between India and Pakistan, also are being received. Some of the analysts are questioning why the talks are not being held openly. Pakistan government is faced with vitriolic questions like, ‘Did Pakistan gain anything from the undeclared talks, other than the ceasefire on the Line of Control?’ and ‘Did India agree to reinstate Article 370?’
But if the Pakistan Prime Minister and military chief have agreed to a compromise on Kashmir during their Saudi Arabian visit, it only shows their helpless state. Because with the economy hitting rock-bottom and when the internal challenges have intensified, Pakistan is struggling for basic survival. All the countries, including China, are upset with Pakistan. The Pakistan military also realises that there is no future for Pakistan unless it compromises and starts talking to India. Therefore, the Pakistan military is proposing talks to its government.
Pakistan had made preparations to purchase sugar and cotton from India. Even the Pakistan military supported the deal. The plan was to increase cooperation slowly in this manner. But Prime Minister Imran Khan kept his ministers in the dark regarding the decision. Therefore, the proposal faced bitter opposition in the cabinet meeting. After that, Imran Khan was forced to withdraw his decision. The claims made in the past that no talks are possible with India unless Article 370 is reinstated are boomeranging on Prime Minister Imran Khan. Therefore, although he desires and needs to establish cooperation with India, he is unable to decide that effect.
This is why Imran Khan’s policies regarding India have become uncertain. Imran Khan feels that if the Kashmir issue is set aside to open a dialogue with India, there will be all-round criticism from the country, quoting his past statements. At the same time, the Pakistani military is upset with Imran Khan for the poor handling of Indian relations. This has forced Imran Khan to revert to his original stand, and he announced that Pakistan is firm on the stand that no talks are possible with India unless Article 370 is reinstated. Responsible analysts from Pakistan warn that he will not be able to maintain his stand for a long time, or maybe Pakistan cannot afford this.
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