News Analysis |
The recent step by the Indian government led by Hindutva leader Narendar Modi has dashed hopes for a reinvigorated Pak-India peace process. The Indian government has put forward two excuses for backing out of a bilateral talk that it agreed to, two days ago: putting up unsubstantiated allegations of a BSF soldier’s death (which took place two days earlier to the Indian agreement of the Foreign Ministerial meeting in New York) and accusing the Imran Khan regime of printing out tickets with Burhan Wani’s picture (which took place prior to the elections as homage to a freedom fighter and a martyr). For many, the Modi regime has left no loose end in establishing that it does not want dialogue in the first place.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs sent out a typical scathing notification, which according to many used unprofessional and undiplomatic language alleging that these acts “reveal the true face of the new Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government”.
However, Pakistan too responded to the Indian backtracking from the Peace process, with the Pakistani Prime Minister himself leading the charge.
Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 22, 2018
Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture, the Prime Minister tweeted.
The Pakistani Prime minister was not alone as many stood with him. The former Leader of the opposition in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman took to Twitter and gave her views on Kashmir.
Shame that on #InternationalPeaceDay India has refused to talk peace with Pakistan in even a routine manner at the @UN on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Running from talks won’t change the fact that this time Indian repression in Kashmir has been noticed in a UN report
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) September 21, 2018
Shame that on #InternationalPeaceDay India has refused to talk peace with Pakistan in even a routine manner at the @UN on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Running from talks won’t change the fact that this time Indian repression in Kashmir has been noticed in a UN report, The senator tweeted.
The Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also handed it out to the Indians in a crisp tweet:
It seems that the Indian govt is divided on the issue of negotiations — have never seen such a puerile statement given by any Foreign Office. The world is watching: Pakistan stands for peace while Indian policies are being guided by extremist ideologies
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 21, 2018
It seems that the Indian govt is divided on the issue of negotiations — have never seen such a puerile statement given by any Foreign Office. The world is watching: Pakistan stands for peace while Indian policies are being guided by extremist ideologies
Under a hashtag trend #IndianGovtagainstPeace, Twitterati are bashing the U-turn with all their might:
Pakistan has been labeled the regional problem child far too long. The sharp contrast between these two statements should reveal where the problem really lies. https://t.co/qTOMLP5wWQ
— Sehar Tariq (@sehartariq) September 21, 2018
India once again shows that they have NO interest (courage) in solving the #Kashmir issue. According to sources India rejects #Pakistan's offer to initiate talks at #UNGA meeting next week. #Kashmiris are the ones paying the price for this!#Indiarejectspaktalks https://t.co/fZki6uAO69
— Bea (@HerNameIs_Bea) September 21, 2018
Imran Khan has done surgical strike on India. India must know that Imran Khan is not like Nawaz Sharif. He does not have business interest in India. He will do best representation of Pakistan. So, beware India.#IndianGovtAgainstPeace
— Ali Raza (@AliRazaTweets) September 22, 2018
About time Modi Sarkar understood that bilateral gains can ONLY be yielded by winning peace in South Asia which is exactly what MAJORITY of Pakistanis & Indians DESPERATELY want. Indian Govt has DISAPPOINTED every sensible South Asian by DISMISSING peace! #IndianGovtAgainstPeace pic.twitter.com/tuYn79y9aM
— Maleeha Hashmey (@MaleehaHashmey) September 22, 2018
There were also those in India who criticised the “flip flops” of the Indian government
This BJP government has NO idea what it is doing ? What a weak government . It has NO serious idea about how to run foreign policy . India stands unsure & isolated in our region thanks to the weakest goverment in our history ! #india #IndiaPak #IndiaRejectsPakTalks
— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) September 21, 2018
#IndiaRejectsPakTalks what made the government to initiate in the first and then reject just to politicize the issue.
Simply ridiculous attempts.— Sanjay Singh Rathore (@Rathor1969) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/sonusids/status/1043456493058543618
According to experts, it was Indian political considerations that dashed the latest attempts for peace between the two nuclear armed neighbours.
Both sides lose by not having the Swaraj-Qureshi meeting. India comes out looking inflexible. Pakistan's new govt, which requested the meeting, suffers an early diplomatic defeat.
All this said, given the political context in India, this cancellation isn't all that surprising.— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) September 21, 2018