Pakistan urged to hone its strategy, diplomacy to advocate for the Kashmir cause efficaciously

Pakistan has assumed a front line position in advocating for the Kashmir cause ever since the conflict started, it however needs to hone its diplomacy and strategy in a bit to present the case to international community cogently.

This was the crux of the roundtable session titled ‘Kashmir: Today and Tomorrow’, which was held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad on December 11, 2018. The session was chaired by Ambassador (r) Arif Kamal whereas the discussants included Dr Imtiaz Khan from George Washington University, Washington D.C., Dr Farhan Mujahid Chak from Qatar University, Doha, Ambassador (r) Tajammul Altaf, DG-IPS Khalid Rahman, Brig (r) Said Nazir and Air Cdr (r) Khalid Iqbal.

Sharing insights over the Kashmir issue, Dr Imtiaz said that despite assuming a leading role in Kashmir cause and showing consistent solidarity with Kashmiris, Pakistan, unfortunately, has not been able to present the real perspective before the international community convincingly. He said that the recent surge in Kashmir struggle is already making India frustrated and it has been forced to change its strategies in the region rapidly. The ratio of rapes and killings of innocent Kashmiris in IHK has also increased considerably off late. The situation however presents an opportunity for Pakistan to propagate the Kashmir’s perspective efficaciously, which can be done by making a comprehensive national policy over the matter that is inclusive of clearly defined goals and efficient diplomatic, advocative and cogent strategies to highlight the issue at the international scale.

Dr Farhan was more suggestive in his approach, urging Pakistan to take the countries like China, Turkey and Malaysia in confidence in an attempt to promulgate the issue to the global audience. He also proposed to hold a plebiscite in Azad Kashmir region which would help build pressure on India. Thinking out of the box, the speaker also floated an idea of introducing a new cricket team by the name of Kashmir in Pakistan Super League (PSL), which according to him, would not only foster harmony among the people of Kashmir and Pakistan, but will also reinforce the national narrative.
Iqbal, in his brief speech, shared that while many evidences of Indian atrocities in IHK during past few years were available on internet for everyone to see, the attempts were being made by technologically strong India to interrupt and suppress the narrative by eliminating the proofs.

Amb (r) Arif Kamal concluded the session urging Pakistan to improve in its strategy and practices of advocacy and diplomacy if it is to play a potent role in highlighting the Kashmir cause at the international stage.