US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan has come at a time when Indo-Pak Foreign Ministers have just had a meeting in Islamabad, a few days back. Though Hilary Clinton’s purpose of coming to Pakistan is a part of the larger goal of getting Pakistan in line with US interests over the Afghan issue, but as a footnote the US Secretary of State made some ‘pleasant’ remarks about Kashmir. Now it has always been a trend in this region that India interprets the statements to suit her own line and Pakistan does the same. If there is any difference it’s this: India does it more intelligently and with an air of maturity, while Pakistan exhibits a not-so-neat, if not clumsy, approach. If India does it by way of looking at US with a meaningful silence, Pakistan needlessly allows a smile to sprawl on her face. Up ahead Pakistan sends out an impression that US is really interested in sorting out matters between the two countries, and that the superpower really finds it an impending question about the safety of this region to solve the Kashmir issue ‘according to the wishes of Kashmiri people! Unfortunately people in Kashmir also fall to this fancy talk. Now take the case of current two day visit that US Secretary of State undertook. It is more than apparent, and also explicitly spoken about, that it has all to do with the situation in Afghanistan. The strategic meet in Kabul and the efforts for breaking ground with the Taliban fighters are the real reason for Hilary to be in Pakistan. Her statement that Osama and Omar are hiding in Pakistan and their arrest is very crucial for US success in Afghanistan leaves nothing for interpretation. It is all open and understandable. Nevertheless, in a fit of optimism we fail to restrain ourselves that US has her own way of approaching an issue, and her priorities are not set against the standard of how difficult a situation people of a particular region are facing. The strategic and defense related matters are though and formulated with a cold attitude. It’s not a human rights venture. Further, no power in the world invites the displeasure of another power for the sake of someone else. The international interventions are all driven by practical and hardcore considerations. So if Hilary Clinton said that India and Pakistan should pursue talks and be bold enough to resolve the issue of Pakistan, she didn’t mince any words while making it clear that US cannot thrust its discretion on India and Pakistan. It is a clear message that things right now are revolving around Kabul only. Some months back people in Kashmir were almost euphoric about international intervention in Kashmir, but like always before it proved disappointingly wrong. Had US been interested right now in Kashmir  we could at least have seen them speak sternly about what is happening here these days. If US could make the trade transit deal happen because it has an interest in settling matters between Pakistan and India over Afghanistan, it could influence Indo-Pak talks over Kashmir also. But since Afghanistan is far more important than Kashmir, US chose not to. This has an abiding lesson for us in Kashmir. Unless it fits the international requirements no superpower is coming to the rescue of Indo-Pak over Kashmir. On a practical note the political mobilization in Kashmir must learn to fluctuate according to the international priorities. That is one intelligent way to earn international attention that proves of some help in sorting out matters between the two countries over Kashmir. Right now it seems that what is happening at home doesn’t find any resonance away.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST