Pakistan is getting trapped in its own trap.
The situation may take time to change, but it does change. The mass movement in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (which we call PoK) has been going on continuously for the past 15 days. One of the demands in the movement, which started due to shortage of power supply and non-availability of flour, is to abolish the 12 seats in the ‘Azad’ Kashmir Assembly that are reserved for ‘refugee’ Kashmiris living outside PoK and which are often filled by the federal (central) government at its own discretion. The Pakistani army used various repressive methods to crush this peaceful movement. These included lathi-charge and tear gas, as well as raids and firing. During the raids, ill-treatment and beatings of the families of the movement leaders remained a routine. There are reports of four dozen deaths due to such repressive methods, which have drawn strong international attention. Since internet services are suspended by the government in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it takes time for the real picture of the agitation and government repression to emerge. However, the scenario that has emerged is that the agitation is getting more intense rather than slowing down. That is why Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif chose to allege that India is behind what is happening in ‘Azad’ Kashmir and that Indian agencies are supporting the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leading the agitation. He also claimed that the people sitting on the dharna in Rawalakot and Mirpur are not real Kashmiris, but non-Kashmiri because they speak Potohari and Pahari languages; they do not even know the Kashmiri language. Not only this, during a media conference in Islamabad, Khawaja, in addition to making the above allegations against India, also threatened that if India did not end the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty soon, Pakistan would not hesitate to wage war with it.
This is not the first time that Pakistan has accused India of 'sponsoring terrorism' on its soil. It has been making such allegations on international forums for the last ten years. Contrary to such a narrative, this is the first time that it has openly accused India of instigating a popular movement in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Its position has always been that the people of its Kashmir do not accept any influence from India! On the other hand, the Indian position has always been that terrorism and violence in Jammu and Kashmir are part of the guerrilla campaign being run by Pakistan since 1975. According to Indian defense experts, the above situation has not changed. Terrorists trained by the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI are still being sent to Jammu and Kashmir. It is a strange thing that due to the lack of any kind of help from the local people, these terrorists are quickly caught by the Indian security forces. It is clear that after suppressing the public discontent in occupied Kashmir for a long time, the Pakistani rulers, frightened by the public anger getting out of control, have now resorted to anti-India rhetoric. That too, rhetoric that is completely opposite to Pakistan's stand so far.
India has categorically rejected the allegations leveled by Khawaja Asif. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs termed the threats of the Pakistani Defense Minister as 'the ravings of jackals' and said that these threats are the product of the panic arising from the real picture of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir being revealed to the world. International experts are of the opinion that the Indian spokesperson has demonstrated a calm approach by responding to the statements of the Pakistani Defense Minister in a restrained manner. Whatever has happened or is still happening in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is hurting Pakistan's image. Therefore, instead of unnecessary rhetoric against him, he should be allowed to remain entangled in his own cycle.
