Imran caught in Modi’s trap (English version) Rakshak News 28 Aug 19
http://www.rakshaknews.com/vishesh/imran-caught-in-prime-minister-modis-trap
Imran caught in Modi’s trap (English version) Rakshak News 28 Aug 19
Prior to the 2019 Indian elections, Imran Khan had stated in an interview that if Modi comes to power, there are chances of talks and peace. This, despite Modi having rebuffed him throughout his first tenure, when he not only ignored Pak’s calls for talks, but also made SAARC redundant and attacked Pak twice in retaliation to its misadventures. Post Balakote, Pak struggled to hide the truth and its denial was proof that it knew it could not consider a military option. Yet he pinned his hopes on Modi.
Imran had also stated in the same interview, ‘Kashmir was a political struggle.’ When India politically handled Kashmir, Pak jumped in panic. Imran was aware of the BJPs poll promise of revoking Article 370, when he made his comments, but had never expected that the government would ensure its compliance so early in its tenure.
He was secure in the words of valley politicians and his own financed Hurriyat leaders that no government in India could ever take that step. In fact, most had even challenged the government in taking that step. He never noticed the slow and steady side lining of the Hurriyat and the isolation of valley political parties.
Post revoking of Article 370, Imran suddenly in panic tweeted, ‘India has been captured, as Germany had been captured by Nazis, by a fascist, racist Hindu Supremacist ideology and leadership.’ He also stated, ‘The world must seriously consider the safety and security of India’s nuclear arsenal in the control of the fascist, racist Hindu Supremacist Modi Government.’ Imran ignored that it was he alone in Pak who had stated Modi’s re-election could bring about peace in the region.
Across the globe, while Modi remains a respected leader whom the world seeks to engage and deal with, Pak remains a nation carrying its baggage of employing terrorist groups as an instrument of state policy. It faces near isolation with even its few friends deserting it for economic benefits with India. Imran’s own opposition terms him as a ‘Selected PM’ a term which he was forced to officially declare as unacceptable. His failure on all fronts would have resulted in him following footsteps of his predecessors and walking into prison, except for the fact that the ‘Selector’ needed a fall guy in case Pak fails further.
Imran was hoping that with Trump’s offer to mediate and US-Afghan talks at a crucial stage he could push his demand for talks, without turning off the terrorist tap. Hence, Qureshi held multiple press conferences stating that Pak was considering how to move forward on Trump’s offer to mediate. Everything collapsed with the revoking of Article 370.
Within India, Modi’s rating has been soaring, while in Pak, the government has been seeking to divert minds of its people from their internal woes of increased cost of living and soaring inflation. If media curbs and placing all who criticise the ‘selected PM’ not been enforced, Pak would have faced riots almost breaking the state. India too is going through an economic crises with a slowing economy, however, remains resilient and would bounce back.
Imran was shocked by the actions Modi took on J and K. He has realised that the Indian government had planned well and implemented its decision accordingly. The deliberate warning conveyed by Rajnath on the reconsidering of the No First Use (NFU) of nuclear weapons added to their plight. Imran has been working overtime trying to find some means to counter India diplomatically, aware that it faces almost no support. Time is running out.
His government makes a new announcement almost every day, only to keep its population from turning its guns on the government for all their failures. His latest announcement to approach the International Court of Justice also would die a natural death as it is an unviable option.
There were only a few hopes for Pak now left. The first is how discussions between the leaders in their private meetings at the G-7 summit progress. Pak has banked on Trump to deliver in return for supporting talks in Afghanistan. Pak remains aware that not much could materialize. The world is aware of how Israel has snubbed multiple UN resolutions and stuck to its own path. India always has that as its last option, which it may never need to consider as the decision it has taken has neither altered any boundaries nor status quo of bilateral talk conditions.
Imran who had dreamt of talks with India, under conditions dictated by him, once Modi came to power, has now been shaken. He had stated to a group of foreign journalists, ‘Perhaps if the BJP – a right-wing party – wins, some kind of settlement in Kashmir could be reached.’ The leader who won India by storm, has unprecedented national support, has shaken Pakistan. Imran would be eating his words and repenting his comments.
In sheer frustration Imran stated in an interview to the New York Times last week, ‘There is no point in talking to them. I mean, I have done all the talking. Unfortunately, now when I look back, all the overtures that I was making for peace and dialogue, I think they took it for appeasement.’ One nation’s leader is another nation’s nemesis.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army