With this article, Prime Minister Imran Khan has essentially declared that he wants to liberate Kashmir by using nukes if necessary
Now that his name is on the line and intensions made public, he couldn't go back
Pakistan was cut in half in 1971. This Kamikaze move will cut it in half again or just simply wipe it clean off the world map
29
there is another issue here also
With Hindu Nationalists also marginalizing the indian Muslims..it is time for the rest of the world to say.. Woo..enough is enough.. treat them fairly..or risk being ostracized also
Imagine Bangalore loosing all the business because of the world disagrees w/ what they are doing to the Muslims there.
like a lot of things..it may be the business community which speaks out first.
lastly..where are the Saudi's...or the Iranians..or even the Taliban/ISIS in this. it is very telling that groups which is bent on Islamic support or even Islamic domination of parts of the world are not pouring fighters into the area..
oh..wait..it is easy to be the protector of islam...and you are not fighting the chinese or indians..
11
Th world need to sort out kashmi problem as per kashmiris desires. It should also look into th human rights violations by India and also th ones pkstani army perpetrate against th ethnic minorities of Baluchistan and Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.
6
What PM Imran Khan said is totally true,today we see the whole picture of the rise of fascist regime rising as we saw at the beginning of world war 2 .The annexation of Saarland,Rhineland,Austria,Sudetenland and then the rest of Czheikoslovakia is quite identical to what Modi and his administration did on 5 August with one distinction so far is that the Kashmiris don't want to be part of India such as the former wanted to join Germany .What we now see is that as Hitler secured Czheikoslovakia he demanded the port of Danzig as he claimed it to be the part of Germany but polish denied it,so after settling it's disputes with the USSR he attacked Poland and decimated them,surely Pakistan won't allow maniacs like modi to even think that further but the rest of the world should realize it's responsibility for lasting peace,because peace can only be assured by the solution of Kashmir Issue according to the UNSC resolutions otherwise this Issue holds the potential of one of world's most deadliest wars if the not the nuclear one.
10
If world powers are ignoring the looming dangers of highly possible all out nuclear war between India and Pakistan over "trade/diplomatic interests", then there won't be any left once war escalates. In fact, this deepening dusk also posses threats to their "trade interests/assets" in India!
Modi is lifetime member of RSS (a fascist Hindu extremist group formed on the lines of Nazism) should be disturbing enough for world! Modi & Co, wants to raise pure Hindu race and for this they want to wipe out non-Hindus & non-Brahmins on mass levels whether in india or Pakistan! "Nuclear-war" would serve this purpose. Modi's destructive radicalism is being washed off by his hired lobbying firms. India's nuclear arsenal is at the mercy of radical hindu extremist Modi, WAKE UP WORLD before its too late! Intervene! Intervene! Intervene!
5
I suggest any article and pictures published in such renowned paper, is done after due diligence towards the correctness and factual verification. Unfortunately the paper while showing a very stressful looking picture, does not share or inform, why the driver was arrested. In no country, you will find stones being thrown at their army personnel. While many army men were killed by terrorists, not many papers publish pathetic pictures. Why now ? and by the way, what is happening in Kashmir is totally internal matter of India. And why Imran is not uttering a word about China keeping millions of people of a certain religion under arrest ? Please do understand history and then publish such articles, is my request
22
NYT has shown poor journalistic principles by giving stage to only one side to make blatantly false and almost comical allegations. What is more hypocritical than the PM of an Islamic country that has seen the percentage of Hindu and Sikh minorities go down from 25% to 3% in the last 50 years and still sees regular killings of minorities advise on religious tolerance. Imran Khan is a puppet and the Pakistan military is the real master of the country that has its motto calls for Jihad as a duty! Imagine the hypocrisy of NYT and Imran Khan! Modi was right in rejecting any talks with Pakistan until they stop training terrorists for activities in Afghanistan and India.
29
India has lost its moral high ground to call Kashmir as its own. In the last 6 years we've seen a slew of anti-Muslim and anti-Christian violence in India. The ruling party/coalition does not have a SINGLE popularly elected Muslim member of parliament, while its massive de-citizenship programs are surgically targeting Muslim citizens. Worst, any form of dissent is immediately labeled "anti-national" and marks the person as worthy of being lynched. Scores of Muslims have indeed been lynched and their lynchers even garlanded by federal ministers! Kashmir was meant to be a crowing glory for Indian secularism. Alas, India is now a de facto Hindu state. And so is shred any legitimacy of Indian claim over Kashmir. Signed, an Indian.
18
“The World” can’t ignore Kashmir? Why not? It ignores so much else in Africa and Asia. The plight of the Rohingya. Chinese repression in Tibet, suppression of Tibetan culture; and the Uyghurs. Quoting Neville Chamberlain, explaining why the Empire wasn’t about to go to war with Nazi Germany over the Sudetenland, “it’s all a long way away in countries we know nothing about.”
But “we are all in danger“, Mr. Khan proclaims. Oh, most assuredly. The burning Amazon rainforest. Accelerating rates of human overpopulation. Destruction of the oceans. Ecological collapse. The line forms where? The “danger line”. And how long is it? Twenty miles?
And what would Khan have us do? Invade India? We’re already stuck in our Afghanistan War going on twenty years, at ruinous cost. Stuck in Iraq, too. And Syria. With a significant presence in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia. And in South Korea. And Japan. And Europe. We have significant mutual defense treaties and security commitments with a dozen other countries.
$24-trillion in federal debt, adding another $1-trillion new debt every year — indefinitely ... .
Our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling. Many millions of opioid addicts. How many million homeless? Socially, those living in the middle of our country (in so-called “Fly-over America”) detest those living on the coasts; half of America detests the other half.
Trump’s Administration is the most incompetent and corrupt in American history.
What would Mr. Khan have us do?
24
It's not surprising that India's PM Modi and Trump have a relationship of mutual admiration.
Both are thugs, and a significant percentage of their hardcore followers are rabid nationalists prone to violence.
20
It is matter of fact that international community reacts in different ways when it comes to Muslims. We've seen a really swift reaction in case of East Timor but the people of Kashmir are still waiting for the promise of plebiscite be fulfilled. The prime minister has rightly said that the RSS and BJP are impressed by the Nazi party. Lynching of Muslims is on rise in mainland India while the valley of Kashmir is facing the worst form of brutality by Indian forces. World must respond now else it will be too late.
8
A democracy like India ? Was Kashmir move (abrogation of Article 370) democratic by Modi ? Jailing all Kashmiri leaders, sending hundreds of thousands of troops to put on a curfew, no food, no medicines and detaining thousands of Kashmiris all in the name of what ? Progress ?! One India ?!
The times, Independent all the leading international news outlets tell a different story. Even in a democratic India no one from the international media is allowed to enter Kashmir to see whats actually happening over there. Not even the democratically elected opposition in your country was allowed.
Please stop making a mockery of yourself.
11
Even though I'm a supporter of human rights and totally disagree with PM Modi's policies (I'm Indian), I don't agree with Imran Khan here. The reason is that he's not in control of Pakistan, the army is. Every time he comes out and talks a big game, I can't help but feel ironic. How much power does he really have? Someday, I'd like to see India and Pakistan have relations similar to USA and Canada. But that is not going to happen until Pakistan becomes a democracy.
355
@Swapnil
"But that is not going to happen until Pakistan becomes a democracy."
I would like to change the previous statement slightly
.. until Pakistan becomes a functioning, secular Democracy.
56
If i agree with you, it simply means that any offer by Imran Khan to get to the negotiation table would be fully backed by powerful Army of Pakistan. It is a perfect situation for you to get in to the talks as you did with General Musharraf. Why avoid talking with Khan when India talked with General directly in past
17
@Swapnil Sorry, but this is the same lame excuse always indians give, the same old rhetoric. Come on, move on, even currently PM Imran Khan and Army on the same page. This is the high time to resolve all the outstanding issues between india and pakistan. When international community says, we want to mediate in kashmir, let them mediate. Then why you are running from dialogue. Then you say kashmir is a bilateral issue. But when pakistan reaches india to talk bilaterally on kashmir, then again you runs away.. What will be solution then. I see no hope in current indian Govt. Pakistan is doing all for peace. But india on the other side just because of proud and big economy is not responding positively. If world will still sleep after one month of curfew on 10 million kashmiris then for sure there will be serious consequences. You can not run a kashmir state of one crore people by total lock down.
16
We are dealing with a mentality of the RSS a fascist organization that gets its inspiration from Hitler.
Modi the Indian PM and his government ministers are life-long members of this fascist organisation. By definition the RSS is a terrorist organisation.
RSS receives funding from its supporters living in Europe USA and UK. Financial Action Task Force must look into this funding of terror. Don't ignore it. It is the Euros US$ and UK£ that is financing the terror in India agasint Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Dalits (low caste Hindus).
The fear in the region and in Pakistan is that Modi is emboldened by UN and world's silence. If he is allowed to continue genocide and rape of Kashmiris expecting no repercussion from the world, the regions will at best be unstable economically and socially (affecting the international economy) and at worst there is the risk of escalation to nukes.
Its time for the world to wake up and realise what lies behind "shining India"/"incredible India".
The world's business and political leaders have their heads buried in the sand at the moment. Indian has dangerous plans. That sand is about to get real hot so better take your head out now.
7
Thanks Mr. Khan for this article. Hopefully it will enlighten the folks who are not familiar with the politics of the subcontinent. Mr. Modi came to power riding a wave of Islamophobia that started in Gujarat and spread elsewhere. So it's not surprising that he took away the rights of every Kashmiri, as soon as he felt empowered to do so. What should bother us is the fact that his spin about the oppression of the Kashmiris being an "internal affair" is being bought by the democratic West. Kashmir is another Palestine in the making. The subcontinent should be ashamed - they have turned this incredibly beautiful land, filled with some of the nicest people on earth, into a disaster zone because they cannot get along with each other. Modi is considered a great leader by his followers. But he has power without remorse, which makes him dangerous.
217
@Krish Pillai
Quite on the contrary - Kashmiris had all the rights every Indian citizen had and then some - which is the special status accorded to Kashmir. Removal of special status just makes it equal to other states/territories of India.
All the talk of demographic change is wildly exaggerated. India is composed of dozens of very distinct linguistic and cultural peoples and every state has retained its identity despite the fact that all Indians can buy property and move anywhere they want. Tamilians dominate Tamil Nadu, Punjabis dominate Punjab and Bengalis dominate West Bengal.
Once all the gnashing of teeth and beating of chests is over, we will have a prosperous Kashmir dominated by Kashmiris hospitable to other Indians and hopefully Pakistan will focus on getting the Islamic Jihadism out of its political bloodstream.
Modi may have to answer for his acts of omission or commission elsewhere in India, but he will be remembered as the first leader to take decisive step towards resolving Kashmir.
41
@Krish Pillai Pray explain the "Islamophobic" actions of Mr. Modi and his cabinet. If you are going to repeat the tired argument of "Gujarat riots", well wake up. Abrogation of Article 370 has nothing to do with Muslims. It is an administrative change to bring common civil laws to the entire country. Imran Khan is shouting because he wants to distract attention of his population from the abject job he has done as a Prime Minister. Pakistan economy is rapidly unraveling, inflation is rising. Pakistan is at a serious risk of FATF violation. Imran Khan hopes to divert people's attention to Kashmir and sadly Liberals in India and abroad are helping him do so...
21
@Ruchir
Unless you are Himachali, you cannot buy land in Himachal Pradesh. Look it up. There may be other examples.
Now lets sit back and wait for the land grab that is about to commence in Kashmir.
7
Kashmir is a part of India. It was since the partition. India is taking actions so that people of Kashmir can enjoy the rising India like other citizens of the country. What’s wrong with that?
471
I’m certainly not an expert in the issue, but by what measure does India then justify oppressing its peoples? It’s absolutely clear that cutting off communication and blinding (!) civilians are acts of oppression.
113
@Ash Kashmir is a disputed territory, as acknowledged and enshrined by India itself in its multilateral and bilateral agreements and obligations. Insisting otherwise is petulant and simply false.
61
@Saad
The world agreed to a plebiscite when Pakistan withdrew all of its forces from all of Kashmir.
I think everybody agrees that calm should return across all of Kashmir - on both sides of the LOC.
We should all focus on bringing back normalcy.
14
international community is requested to pressurise the Indian govt to stop the madness in Kashmir & send back it's troops to barracks. Kashmir should belong to just kashmiries & their future course must be decided as per the wishes of kashmiries.
2
Prime Minister Imran Khan's perhaps last ditch effort to avert a Nuclear War between India and Pakistan. Situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir is very serious and it can lead to an armed conflict between the two nuclear powers at any time. Mr. Modi;s revocation of Kashmir Special Status on Aug. 5, 2019 and curfew for over 24 days now is unprecedented in modern history.
Mr. Modi's election on RSS platform and following the footsteps of Mussolini and Hitler’s fascist ideology against Jewish Minority in Germany has risked a mushroom cloud in Asia that would inevitably affect the whole world.
It’s Mr. Trump’s responsibility to rein in Mr. Modi and Indian Govt. policies in Kashmir that is a disputed territory according to the UN Security Council Resolutions. If US, as world’s largest economy and military superpower lets Mr. Modi get away with violating human rights in Kashmir, their right of self determination, extended curfews and atrocities on helpless women and children in Kashmir, the world we all live may not be liveable anymore.
Nuclear fallout does not follow any boundaries and barriers. The people of United states of America, must ask Mr. Trump to play his role, safeguard their and world future by stopping Mr. Modi to follow Hitler’s footsteps in Kashmir.
3
All the Pakistanis here please stop creating the narrative that India is radicalized. Look at your own country.
India is the largest democracy in the world with the 2nd largest Muslim population which has elected this government with overwhelming majority.
Acknowledging India’s Hindu roots is not radicalization; it does not mean others cannot follow their religion - as I mentioned before India has the 2nd largest Muslim population in the world and a Christian population larger than many countries in the world. Please don’t try to shame Hindus just for acknowledging that they are Hindus. Also nothing is more hypocritical than this coming from citizens of a declared Islamist nation which imposed Sharia law and talks about pan Islamism.
Also NYT do you shame US presidents for celebrating Christmas and Easter, for putting a Christmas tree in Whitehouse or going to Church . Then why are you trying to shame Indian rulers for being Hindus
27
Mr Khan forgot to mention the 1947 Jammu massacre carried out by members of RSS and Hari singh Army in order to change the demographics of the region that resulted in 237,000 muslim casualties ( According to the Times other sources give varying numbers but still very high).
Muslims that constituted 61 percent of the population in Jammu region were reduced to a minority within a span of a few weeks . The tactics employed were frighteningly similar to the Nazis. The massacre took place before Pashtun invasion of kashmir.
14
No evidence of this, yet it seems he's able to make up a story attributing the exact tactics employed by his side across the world upon the populations they victimize.
8
It is time for the international powers and community to realize the gravity of the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir and the way India is suppressing the Kashmiris for so many years. The entire Indian occupied Kashmir is under strict curfew in the presence of 700,000 Indian soldiers in Kashmir without telephone and internet connection for the past 4 weeks. Even the Opposition leaders have not been allowed to step inside Kashmir and have been sent back and raises serious questions as to what Modi government is trying to hide.
Imran is sincerely trying his best to ensure to improve relations in the region since he came in power last year and has played an important role in dialogue process in Afghanistan, however, India has behaved very arrogantly and has mistook Imran's sincere efforts as Pakistan's weakness.
167
@Ahmed LOL. Kashmir is part of India. What India does is for India to decide not some terrorist country. Why does Pakistan not worry about Balochistan ?
52
@Ahmed NOT the "entire" indian side of Kashmir. 5 districts in the Valley are under curfew. Ladakh, Leh and Jammu and parts of the Valley are perfectly fine.
Your comment is exactly why the citizens of Jammu and Ladakh have been wanting this step for many years. Everyone conflates Srinagar with all of Kashmir, while the rest of the territory has had to limp along with the separatist politics of the Valley.
There actually were several decades after independence when Indians and Pakistanis traveled across the border freely and Kashmir was peaceful, but once Pakistan decided to take a fundamentalist turn, and unleashed the Taliban and the other jihadi groups, it has not been able to control the violence they have wrought, and India has suffered from multiple terror attacks for the last 30 years as a result.
I would like the blockade to be lifted as well and the army presence decreased, but the separatists and militants have held the entire state and its progress hostage for decades.
Every single time there was a peace process, or an economic initiative to bring progress, there was violence. It's hard to believe in Imran Khan's sincerity - he doesn't control the army or the flow of arms to the militant groups.
51
@Ravina you're absolutely right.
There has been many attacks on India that the USA never reported or put on the News & only second hand foreign radio and newspapers reported those attacks. I agree with your statement, "once Pakistan decided to take a fundamentalist turn, and unleashed the Taliban and the other jihadi groups, it has not been able to control the violence they have wrought, and India has suffered from multiple terror attacks for the last 30 years as a result."
38
If the same would have happened to non Muslims, the entire world would have been on its toes. Entire wars were waged for a 1000 peoples death in 9/11. But the world does not care for Muslim blood. The numbers will reach millions, the men are dying and women are being raped. If the world doesn't care, its okay but then they should not pose themselves as international peace making forces. The international media and the people should openly admit that they dont care for Muslim blood. And now that we have knocked all doors to the UN, to media organizations and all countries and have received no response, now if Pakistan will move its military in Indian occupied Kashmir to save our Muslim brothers and sisters from the RSS atrocities of the Indian forces, then the world has no right to say anything to Pakistan. We asked the world to help us, if they remain silent now, and cannot do anything. Then they should stay out if Pakistan decides to defend the honor of its Muslim brethren.
If everything is normal in India, why they dont let the media inside, why they have blocked all communications and the internet. The Kashmiris have the right to speak and no one can lock them down like India has done. Where are the preachers of "Freedom of speech" now. Why don't ypu let them say what they want to say. How can India decide on its own and break promises that were made to the Kashmiri people?
3
Pakistan claims it cares for Kashmiri Muslims is preposterous. Miseries Pakistan has brought upon fellow Muslims run from earth to sky. They discriminated against their Muslim brothers in then East Pakistan and killed them in millions. Meddling in Afghanistan, creating terror groups there and in Kashmir has made millions of Muslims loose lives and still suffer. Those who do not follow certain strand of Islam within Pakistan are killed and discriminated.
Secondly the Maharaja of Kashmir was so taken aback when Pakistan sent marauders and troops disguised as tribal who started rapping, killing and pillaging. Pakistan's founder Jinnah was responsible for this, see 1997 PBS documentary where Shaukat Hyant Khan an associate of Jinnah admitted this. Frightened Maharaja sought Indian intervention, India refused because Kashmir was not part of India. Maharaja signed Treaty of Accession and India sent troops. By the time ceasefire took place Pakistan had 40% of Kashmir.
In 1947 Pakistan claimed Hindu majority territories Junagadh and Hydrabad. The former is on ocean with land on three sides and the latter is a landlocked city. It is liking Canada asking for Kentucky. The reason was both had Muslim princely rulers. India went to UNO, cease fire was declared, resolution was passed to withdraw troops. Pakistan refused. Military controls Pakistan, not Imran Khan.
What about Pakistani text books teaching kids from age of 5 to hate Indian and Hindus and then Jews.
7
I followed one of the links in the article and was amazed by what I read:
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/02/magazine/the-other-face-of-fanaticism.html?module=inline
There have been pogroms in India during which pregnant Muslim women had their belly opened and the baby ripped out. Who knew? Even the Nazis didn't sink this low.
6
Great, a fascist sympathizer claiming first use of nuclear weapons will "depend on circumstances" is PM of India. I'll be interested to see if India responds to Mr. Khan, but that doesn't appear promising.
3
I am happy pakistan Imran Khan has tried to wake the word of great danger we and Kashmiri people are facing at the hands of religious fanatics one more time in history.it could be Muslims fanatics in Afghanistan ,Indian Modi terrorist in Kashmir or previously At the hands of Hitlor of Germany.the same mindset.World is ignorance and careless right now just like they did before in history.Some one have to wake the conscious of Noble people of the world.Imran khan is the leader World need at this hour to standup against Hindu religious fanatics.
Kashmir is under attack by these hoodloms and Lawless people’.Indias Noble people should ask their Government to stop this and follow the resolution of the UN before it is too late .
1
As a Kashmiri and someone desperate for peace and prosperity across all the subcontinent it is very sad that for once when we have a good and decent politician as PM in Pakistan, India who traditionally used to always have leaders who were calm, moderate and inclusive despise multiple challenges of absolute poverty in large swathes, caste and regional rivalries has taken a 180 degree turn. By playing the ultra nationalist Hindu and religion card the BJP / RSS ( who have some strange inferiority complex emanating from 100s of year mogul / Muslim rule in India ) Modi and Co are tearing the very fabric of secular and inclusive India woven since 1947 by previous leaders. With the help of a very compliant media this trumpeon behaviour may be winning them some short term votes but they are releasing demons they will not be able to control and will be a disaster for India and the whole region. BJP is doing to India exactly what Zia Ul Haq did to Pakistan and surely they can see how difficult it’s proving for Pakistan to shed those clothes!
3
Indians, Pakistanis, and anyone interested to get into Kashmir issue need to understand some history of Kashmir (when Muslims arrived there, how they became majority, etc.) before they get into the discussion of why, who, what caused Kashmir & India so much pain since 1947. Then they can come to article 370 and other such issues before trying to find ways to solve the complex geopolitical issue of Kashmir. Please keep aside your religious and political allegiance while you try to do any of it.
One of my friends shared this excellent talk on history of Kashmir. It also contain constitutional validity and context of Article 370 (at the end of the talk during a Q&A session) revocation of which by Indian Govt started this seemingly unnecessary controversy. https://is.gd/HEh3s3 . Anyone can check credibility & verify any of the facts mentioned in the talk.
Problem of Kashmir is not at all any different than most places in India. The only issues that made it special are- 1) It's geographical proximity to Pakistan, & 2) its Muslim majority population.
We all- Pakistanis, Indians and others- need to understand that without justice, peace can never be achieved. And that road to justice, and then peace, is not always peaceful. But that's the price any peace loving nation must be ready to pay to achieve long lasting peace. Avoiding war or being scared of war blackmailing (by Pakistan and its PM included) only make the problem worse and war inevitable.
4
So when Imran Khan, a politician threatens nuclear war (he has done it several times now), the NYT stays mum. But when Priyanka Chopra, an actress tweets Jai Hind ( akin to God Bless America) and hash tags the Indian Army (similar to the respect both liberals and conservatives have for the men and women in uniform in the US), she is gleefully perceived as a warmonger. Is this a case of double standards or a Jemima Goldsmith connection? Dear NYT, I would love for you to cover the plight of women in Pakistan, the limited opportunities for education for girls, and the Baluchistan quest for freedom with the same gusto you are covering the abrogation of Article 370. Also it would do you good to delve into the character of Imran Khan- his misogynistic attitude towards women (he prefers women who cover themselves and not adopt western dress - those are his words), and his lack of knowledge about foreign affairs ( he thought Germany and Japan are neighbors and he was called out by a minister of the previous government for this).
17
VERY RICH coming from the premier of the only nation on earth founded solely on the principle of religious exclusivity, which has long been the primary cesspool of terrorism in the world.
How about mentioning in passing that the "Kashmiri youth" responsible for the 40 some deaths earlier this year was trained by Jaish-E-Mohmmed, the Pakistani terror group who have taken gleeful responsibility of the attack? The decades long export of a demented ideology by Pakistan across the border is alone sufficient to justify the administrative takeover of Kashmir by India.
I have no sympathy for RSS hooligans either, but two wrongs don't make a right. Modi's admiration of Hindu hardliners has it's political reasons, but the (anticipated) misery wrought by "Hindu Nationalists" on Kashmiris comes nowhere close to the 1300 year plus derangement of hundreds of millions of youth in the name of eternal rewards.
No doubt NYT will publish a rebuttal by Modi next week. That would be fair reporting, right? No, wait, they won't. A certain storyline, once stuck in the Western mind, has a certain appeal that takes forever to erode. "Hindu Nationalism" is what we're sticking with these days.
14
Today is the 26th day of lock down and curfew in Kashmir. For 8 Million muslim population, there are 1 Million army personnel in valley. For those who think India is doing this without taking POTUS on board are mistaken. Both India and US r on same page along with French, Israel and some Arab. Based on this it is strongly believed that simply highlighting and taking up the issue Internationaly will not push modi to go back to before 6th August status unless India gets a kick on its back. Mr. Khan you have a capable war hardend nuclear armed force, just use it!! Don't plead for mercy from the world. They will remain silent due to their vested interests. Go Green, Kashmir is waiting for you, May Allah protect you!
2
Imran Sir -
Where was Osama Bin laden hiding for years and before he was captured by US? You were partnering US, right? FATF plans to place Pakistan in a Blacklist because your country continues to fund terror, right? Any clue on why your other neighbors like Afghanistan and Iran accuses Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism.
Any idea, why did Pakistan attack India in 1999 in Kargil while our PM Vajpayee traveled to Pakistan with a message of peace. Mumbai attack and so many other terrorist attacks in India had originated from Pakistan soil, right? Terrorists like Hafeez Saeed and Maulana Masood Azhar were freed by India after a plane was hijacked by your proxies, right? Do they operate freely in your country and also raise money in the name of Jihad. UN and countries brands them as terrorists while you do not.
Have you made Gilgit & Balistan a separate territory? India has made a similar change only right, which makes you cry.
India had returned 90,000 of your soldiers unharmed in 1971, correct? Thanks for returning our 1 pilot safely who had downed your plane.
Yes, it is a New India and we would not talk to you because your habit is to stab in the back whenever we have tried to talk. You believe in state sponsored terrorism, double crossing the whole world. Please work on making life easy for people of your country. They are struggling to even get proper food. Even Roti & Naan have become so expensive. We will handle our own internal issues ourselves. Have a good day, Sir.
19
Wow! Mr khan gives me hope. Articulate and intelligent. Yes, I know Kashmir is a complex and difficult problem. Yes, Pakistan hid Osama Bin Ladin and has a security service that facilitates terrorism. But it means something when such a brilliant diplomatic overture is made. We should immediately work with Mr. Kahn for peace. It’s time to cure the British colonial stupidity
That created this problem.
4
Hate to break the news, but this kind of argument is exactly why it’s so dangerous to have a guy like Trump as President. You can yack all you want about how India and Pakistan are none of our beeswax, but there’s a very, very good chance that one of these little tiffs around the world is going to explode into a lot more than shooting down a couple military jets.
And the thing is, Trump’s more than just completely incompetent to get any of this settled down. He’s positively setting these disasters up, most proximately by kissing up to Modi as well as other strongman, murderous types. Together with loudly announcing that we’re not gonna do jack, go got ‘em, boys. See you at the White House, we’ll plan a hotel.
The only reason Balsonaro and the burning rainforest aren’t terrifying people is ignorance. Its effects are likely to end up being just as bad as a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan.
3
PM Khan, dont threat with Nuclear war. You will be demolished by the world. Not by India but all civilized nation in the world. So apologize to the world community for your last sentence.
8
It would be nice if NyTimes provide the same opportunity to Indian prime minister, to write an opinion piece on why his government revoked the privileges of article 370 . This ensures that you are being impartial in your reporting and shows that you bring light to the issues from the views of both the countries
11
Perhaps our South Asian brothers and sisters should take pause at what Albert Einstein said many years ago:
"I don't know what weapons World War 3 will be fought with, but I do know that World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones."
You all seem bound together by hatred and a desire for revenge over Kashmir, the Partition, and other slights.
Just remember that there are about 5.5 billion other inhabitants on this spacecraft with you along for the ride, and there is no Planet B.
Choose your next move carefully. Please.
2
The men running India, Pakistan and everywhere else are THIEVES. Cut them off and they will be replaced by different thieves and opportunists. There truly is no hope in this world as long as men are allowed to run it.
Sorry, World will ignore Rwanda, Tibet, Mynamar,China Uighurs and Libya ( veen they produce oil )
Do you hear any uproar selling arms to Saudi for sheeling the country call "Yemen"
They do not care Simple!..
For us in America we have Donald Trump to keep us glued to TV :
2
Pakistan systemically institutionalized and created terrorism through its madrasas and legalized terror outfits within the country.
Pakistan's lack of vision and its investments into terror backfired and they should look in the mirror how Pakistan messed up as a whole as compared to India.
Pakistan has to realize their root cause of their problems and not blame India.
India is a sovereign, democratic and secular state. No one needs to tell India how to manage its land and people. Long live truth - Satya Meva Jayathi!!
8
Name even one Muslim-majority country where their minorities....be they Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish, or Christian...enjoy equal rights.
10
Pakistan cannot preach about human rights when they rolled the red carpet to Osama Bin Laden and hid him from rest of the world for 10 years.
Pakistan has been funding and sending terrorists to Kashmir for last 40 years preventing any meaningful development in the state. The whole world knows the Pakistan is the terrorist factory of Islamic Jihad and thus no one really cares about this issue.
If Pakistan is so concerned about fellow Muslim suffering, why are they so complicit to Chinese concentration camps in XinJiang province against the Uyhghur Muslims?
10
Reading Imran Khan sounds like Pakistan was just born. Pakistan has contributed to terrorism and is its number one and most effective export, lets start with few of their very successfull exports: 9-11 Osama Bin Laden, Dawood Ibrahim (bomber in Mumbai blasts), sucide terrorist sent to Mumbai Taj Hotel and Synagauge etc.
NyTimes has lacked coverage talking about plight of Kashmiri Hindus who are refugees in Jammu Tawi and rest of India, I am one of them. Pakistan can not be trusted with safety of minorities, they cant even protect Muslims who are Shia or Ahamedi's. Thinking them to protect Hindus or Buddhists (from Leh)!
India is at this time of no engagement after years and years of lies by Pakistan. Pakistan is a terrorist country and should be isolated.
13
In history books and relevant official documents, Eastern Baluchistan -- popularly called British Baluchistan -- is known as Kalat State because of its capital town, Kalat. As one of several free and independent states of pre-colonial South Asia, e.g. Nepal and Bhutan, Kalat State had treaty relations with the British Crown that allowed the British Empire to conduct its defense and foreign affairs.
Before the Brits quit South Asia, the Kalat State -- its Khan (sovereign ruler) along with its bicameral parliament (Diwaan-e Aam & Diwaan-e Khaass) -- re-declared its full independence as it was recognized before the treaties with the British crown, refusing to join Pakistan.
Pakistan -- that had inherited a huge chunk of the mighty British Indian Army & Police as well as the highly efficient British Indian Bureaucracy -- attacked and illegally occupied the Kalat State. The Brits put fingers in their ears and looked the other way when the so-called British Baluchistan cried asking the British Crown to fulfill its solemn treaty obligations -- to defend the Kalat state.
Pakistan's illegal occupation of Eastern Baluchistan along with gross violations of human rights continues.
Will the NY Times request some known American or European scholars of South Asian affairs, e.g., Selig Harrison (If alive) to write the full story for its readers?
7
Lies do not magically become truth just by the virtue of being told repeatedly and loudly and everywhere. Imran Khan should refrain from this rhetoric, as they say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, all the way more if it is politically motivated. This hate-mongering and nuclear threat would take the world nowhere. Pakistan a theocratic country itself, not even a democracy till date crying foul over rights violation by the world’s largest democracy India; who has time & again proved her stance over world peace & security by its foreign policies! Till date India has sent the biggest number of troops to the UN Peacekeeping Force, it always abides by its policies of Non-Alignment & Panchsheel for bettering world peace. Kashmir gained nothing in past 70 years of Article 370 and a separate constitution but unemployed stone pelting youth indoctrinated by separatist leaders for their political motives, also cross-border terrorism. One nation one Constitution will immensely benefit the people of Kashmir as they would now receive the benefits of Govt welfare policies, trade & commerce, education, hospitals, tourism, employment would get a boost. All the Indians hope to see a paradise in Kashmir which has witnessed the gruesome ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits in 90s. India has been the worst hit of countless terrorist attacks having their bases in Kashmir and Pakistan. Now everybody hopes to see democracy and fraternity ushering in a new era in Kashmir. Amen. Peace 🙏🏼
8
Is the world stricken with Alzheimer's?
Didn't Pakistan wage three wars since 1947 and defeated utterly all three times? Didn't Pakistan wage war on its own citizens of East Pakistan (1971) and raped hundreds of thousands of women and murdered almost three millions of Bangladeshis?
"During the nine-month-long Bangladesh War for Liberation, members of the Pakistani military and supporting Islamist militias from Jamaat-e-Islami[7] killed between 300,000 and 3,000,000[4][8] people and raped between 200,000 and 400,000 Bangladeshi women In December 2011, a BBC News report cited unnamed "independent researchers" as claiming that between 300,000 and 500,000 people were killed. The actions against women were supported by Jamaat-e-Islami religious leaders, who declared that Bengali women were gonimoter maal (Bengali for "public property").[13] As a result of the conflict, a further eight to ten million people, mostly Hindus,[14] fled the country at the time to seek refuge in neighbouring India. It is estimated that up to 30 million civilians became internally displaced.[8]
Didn't all this mayhem result in Pakistan's dismemberment even with a common religion?
Hasn't Pakistan illegally occupy and annex Baluchistan?
Isn't it true that no Kashmiri political party in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) is allowed to contest elections if they support independence for Kashmir?
The 37-nation Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Pakistan on a watchlist of terrorist countries?
10
Has or will the New York Times extend an invitation to Prime Minister Modi for an opportunity to write an editorial so the world (or at least NYT readers) can obtain his “direct” personal and political view point of this issue, rather than a journalist’s or editorial opinion assessing the Prime Minister’s stance?
86
Innocent people are dying in Kashmir. First and foremost lift the curfew!!
Next India and Pakistan should come on the table to talk.
4
Modi is a right-wing extremist, using religion and ultra-nationalism to cement his power. Does this remind anyone of some other nation?
2
Before any plebiscite in India-occupied Kashmir, first deport Pakistanis and illegal aliens from Kashmir. Give displaced Kashmiri Hindus and their descendants the right to vote by absentee ballot. As for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the less said the better but its no secret that it is the epicenter of terrorism in SE Asia.
6
I totally agree with pm IK world should have to notice what's happeing in kashmir just for the sake of humanity...just try to think like a human not like Pakistani or Indian...the main aim of Imran Khan is to give freedom of speech to Kashmiris...what they want is important not what a Pakistani or Indian wants is!! This issue should be resolved as early as possible its soo heart wrenching to see people bleed and dying ...Kashmiri's should be given freedom its their right as human being #say no to cruelty and brutality
2
First, Pakistan must stop it’s cross border terrorism and uproot the growing Muslim hostile and dangerous groups like Lashkar-e-taiba in Pakistan before prescribing peace talks to India.
5
Pakistan should focus on its family planning programs since the internal situation is explosive. Khan should stop blackmailing the world about Pakistan's desire to use nuclear weapons against India which is asinine.
6
People of Kashmir should have a right to choose where they want to go, to Pakistan or India. Indian people should tell their government to uplift the Curfew and then see the reaction. They believe that Kashmir is their part then why Kashmir is under curfew since 5th August. They are killing innocent people. The world should wake up and stop genocide the Kashmiris.
#FreeKashmir
1
Pakistani invaders have occupies Kashmir for the last 70+ years and carried out systematic genocide of the locals, mostly hindus. 500,000 Kashmiri hindus were driven out of their homes overnight and the void was filled by offering permanent resident cards to Rohingya muslims, drastically changing the demographics of the Kashmir valley and blatantly violating human rights as well as the special status given to Kashmir. I would request new york times to present the whole truth, because selectively chosen titbits of information are more harmful than blatantly lying. I urge everyone to know and understand before you make up your minds.
5
As a Kashmiri I fully concur with Prime Minister Imran Khan. The only solution of Kashmir will come by a dialogue and by giving the right of self determination to Kashmiris as ordered by the UNO and accepted by Nehru and Gandhi. The other alternative is WAR between India and Pakistan in which Nuclear Weapons will be used, thanks to Modi's intransigence. Modi is not only a Hindu supremacist ; he is also irresponsible, ambitious, insecure ,and intransigent. But most of all he is unpredictable and that is a worrying thing for the Sub- Continent. I hope the world will put enough pressure upon him to solve the Kashmir issue peacefully.
11
Mr Khan,
Your talks for peace will be reciprocated when Pakistan has brought the perpetrators of the Mumbai massacre to justice and Pakistan demonstrates irreversible changes in its use of Jihadi elements to promote terror as a tool.
Now that terror has not got Pakistan any dividends, suddenly Pakistan has become a messiah for peace?
It may be better to first bring your Army to heel and send it to the barracks instead of running the country. Only then will you have earned credit to speak as an authority figure who can be trusted.
3
The NY Times should have weighed these facts before publishing an opinion of the PM of a hard line muslim nation
1) Mr.Khan supported General Pervez Musharraf's Military coup in 1999.He supported the dictatorship of Gen. Musharraf.
2) In late 1994, he joined a pressure group led by former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Hamid Gul and Muhammad Ali Durrani . He has close ties with ISI he military wing that supports Islamic terrorist activities in India and Afghanistan.
3) Pakistan was responsible for the genocide of Hindus in present day Bangladesh. This genocide led to the largest exodus of hidus in history - close to 5 million hindus fled East-Pakistan to take refuge in India. The world remained silent then. India's could not stand by silently and its military action led to the formation of Bangladesh.
4) India is the largest Democracy in the world and in its history has never attacked another nation or instigated communal violence
5) Imran khan can practice Islam but it is wrong for Indian leaders to practice their faith (hiduism)??
10
Will the NYT publish even one article from the Indian viewpoint? Just one? For the past 3-4 weeks all we’ve seen is pro-Pakistan articles about Kashmir.
7
Great work by Imran Khan
2
Comparing Modi to Hitler is bizarre,where are the concentration camps where Kashmiris are being exterminated!?
Imran would do well to put in a word of sympathy for the Uighurs in Xinjiang getting special treatment from his Chinese friends about whom he has not uttered a word.
The U.N resolutions call for the unconditional withdrawal of All Pakistan troops and irregulars from Pakistan occupied Kashmir including Gilgit before a plebiscite.
Imran should order His Army chief Bajwa to withdraw his forces into Pakistan as per the UN resolution so the problem can be resolved.
3
Well Said Mr Khan.Dont Step back from your strong stance forget what extremists are saying about.We all are with you.InshAllah Kashmis Azad Hoga.
1
Appreciate cricket legend and now Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan's showing true face of India's Hindu radical govt. to the world. India has become a Hindu Taliban state where minorities like Muslims and Christians are facing mob lynchings for petty issue like eating or carrying beef. Thousands have been detained in KAshmir and India has made the place into Gaza. International community needs to help the Kashmiri people and give them the right that was promised to them in UN, to give them the right to choose which country they want to join through referendum.
3
Well explained in a simplified manner. Khan is a great leader with modern vision, breaking the stereotype fundamentalism associated with Pakistan. The way he is doing efforts to bring peace not only in Indian Occupied Kashmir but also in Afghanistan is proving that he is the true peace ambassador of the whole south Asia.
All positive energy vibes to you Khan.
233
@Tayiba Anjum Yes, agreed.
1
Khan may not be wrong on this particular issue but your comments need serious pushback. He is not a modern leader with a progressive vision. He’s a celebrity who is backsliding into fundamentalism. He has promised to make Pakistan into an official Islamic state, denounced feminism, and is supported by a huge number of well-known fundamentalists, including many with violent histories. Please do your research.
13
I really wonder what the world has become. How can it be so aloof and indifferent when it comes to atrocities by anyone else than Muslims. This racist/religious bias can continue. But let this article by out PM act as our way of saying “You were adequately warned of the consequences of a nuclear war”. If the world is under the illusion that this will not impact them well they are mistaken. The nukes to be used in the war will impact a big part of this world. The world as we know it today will never be seen by many generations to come. World’s fight against Muslim extremism has made it oblivious to the real dangers posed by Hindu extremists. Whole none of the Muslim countries is governed by an extremist, the same cant be said against India and Israel. Wake up world, before we all repent on not acting in time.
9
Sure let people of land decide.. then include hindu pandits , people from ladakh, from jammu and from gilgit. First bring your army back . Then let all i mean all voices be heard.
1
I’m a Pakistani. My father fought the 65 and 71 war with India. My grandfather fought the 48 war with India. War is not a solution to anything. I remember them telling me countless stories about the collateral damage on each side. Modi should not have taken this fascist step. He wants Kashmir desperately but not Kashmiris. He has a history of being racist against Muslims because of what he did in Gujarat. Already there is tremendous hatred between the Indians and Pakistanis. They can’t stand each other. They need reasons to hate and fight with each other and Modi is just loving to add fuel to the fire. There was no need to strip 370. India still had control of the IOK even without it. He just made a fool out of him self. He should not be compared to Hitler or Mussolini. Compared to him they much better.
3
Out of 996 comments, almost 99% are from Indians who want their their supreme leader Modi to continue his policy of killing innocent Muslims, Christians and Dalits.
Under Modi's rule, Muslims have been lynched just because they were accused of having beef in their refrigerators.
Just few weeks ago a Muslim truck driver was transporting cows to a farmer when he was stopped by a Hindu gang, and he was beaten to death. His attackers recorded that attack and uploaded it on the web.
The stories go and on and on. Modi is busy killing minorities in India, and his minions are busy defending him in the West.
5
What about all the non-Muslims that were ethnically cleansed from Kashmir in the 90s?Many of these people were not Hindu. You can't remove everyone who disagrees with what should happen in Kashmir then pretend that there is consensus within its borders.
6
Time for India and Pakistan to stop claiming all of Kashmir. Divide it and be done with the nonsense.
2
I have a simple question, if Kashmir is a part of Indian than why indian forces Brutally Killing their own people and why the millions of Kashmiris are against india. Indian Govt.forcefully declared kashmiris to be indian and start killing them. If this is a case than start killing sikhs in Punjab as they have earlier did in 1984. Its not about who is right or wrong its quite obvious that international and back end forces pushing India to gain some hidden goals but that goals seems to be achi3ve after killing millions of kashmiris or muslims in India. INDIA already trying to maintain the image of secular country and its their right to play any strategy to keep his nation hopes high but on serious note world believe that some how in indian cities thay have some literacy rate and tjose people who comes in this umbrella of literacy may use their brain to process muslim massacre across india and Kashmir.
3
Very well said Imran saheb! We, Indians, are feeling ashamed of what these fascists rulers are doing to India at large. Peace is the only way out and hope Modi led govt would understand this point. Our minorities abroad are now applying for citizenships as they are scared to go back to India. This is not the India we left few years back (feeling sad while thinking all this).
6
Mr. Khan : Bravo. Bravo for speaking ONLY for the muslims of Kashmir. What about the ethnic Hindu Pandits who were raped, pillaged and thrown out of Kashmir and their homes forcibly taken? They became refugees in India !! Will you talk about them also? Or your heart bleeds ONLY for muslims?
Your ancestors incited a religious was against secular India and got Pakistan and Bangladesh and now want to swallow Kashmir as well?
No more. Please don't preach about minority treatment in India as it is the tyranny of Muslim majority in Kashmir against Buddhists and Hindus that should be pointed out.
4
Its Freedon Vs Luxury in a prison. What woould you prefer
OBL was protected and found in Pakistan..Nothing more needs to be said
3
It is unfortunate to see Imran Khan's 'holier than thou' article on NYT. I do not agree with the far right Hindu nationalist party (BJP) in India in almost all things, but Kashmir issue needs to be solved. The way Modi is doing it might be wrong, but instead of Mr. Khan's plea to the US and the world to fix his/this problem, he could've come up with ways to solve the issues. On the contrary, he is igniting the nuclear threat to draw attention and create more division. The article is completely one sided and biased. NYT should've put a better written article. Just because it's from Mr. Khan, it will bring a lot of traffic and that is a cheesy way to focus on an issue.
3
No wonder Imran Khan is appealing desperately to the west which created a puppet it wanted to serve its purpose. Read “War and Diplomacy in Kashmir” by C. Dasgupta and views of Shabir Khan of West Virginia Univetsity who is of Pakistani origin
1
India should removed the article 370 and 35A from Kashmir regions, they should stop killing the innocent people and removed 800000 military from the Jammu Kashmir. They should gives the right of the original Kashmir for voting and let them decided wether they want to merge in Pakistan or in bloody India. I have appealed fromUNO and Red Cross and all over the world please immediately implement the above points .
1
Worthy reading, I wish n pray world listen what he actually wants to say n afraid of!
1
Mr. Imran Khan please mind your own business. India is a democratic country and Kashmir is an integral part of India and by abolition of Article 370 is an union territory. India knows how to look after its states, union territories and its people in a democratic way. And by the way, Pakistan is getting backlisted not because of Indians but for harboring terrorism. Indians didn't guide you to harbor Osama Bin Laden in a safe army cantonment. People of the world knows what you are and what you represent, please don't shed crocodile tears to other's affairs.
6
Please read up how Balochistan was annexed by Pakistan in 1948 (https://nation.com.pk/05-Dec-2015/how-balochistan-became-a-part-of-pakistan-a-historical-perspective), only one year after Pakistan itself recognizing Balochistan as an independent sovereign state, in 1947. Note that Balochistan is almost half the land mass of the current Pakistan and very rich in minerals - so no wonder why Pakistan annexed Balochistan. Therefore when Pakistanis are up in arms about Kashmir (without paying any attention to the fact that the King of Kashmir, Hari Singh, himself invited India to save Kashmir when Pakistan attacked Kashmir unprovoked in 1947), they need to read up their own history of nation building by encroaching bordering independent sovereign states. This is the bottom line: As soon as Pakistan got independence in 1947, they started looking at all defenseless neighboring states on their border and started invading those to increase their land mass and strategic positioning - this includes Balochistan in the south-west and Jammu & Kashmir in the north-east.
4
Let's start with "why did the pandits of kashmir leave?"
Why did the true sons and daughters of that land flea her? Who started it? (we need to understand the past to address the future)
Why is it that no one speaks about them Kashmiris?
We can't ignore one side of the story completely and act like a saint Mr.Khan. The muslim population in my country grew along with all other minorities. Can we say the same about your country? or as a matter of fact any islamic nation?
Aren't you the one who mentioned nuclear weapons in your recent press conference? Tired of your drama.
6
Imran Khan - popularly known as "Selected Prime Minister of Pakistani junta," has the gals to blame India for the atrocities in Kashmir. While he (shamelessly) talks about plebiscite in Kashmir, people in his own country (Pakistan) are languishing in prisons for demanding voter supremacy. Here is an advice for Mr. Khan and his generals: before blaming India, you should put your own house in order. Kashmiris would do much better with India than joining hands with Pakistan
5
Imran Khan has conveniently left many truths and twisted others. He did not mention:
1. Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in 1947.
2. Pakistan is under illegal occupation of 1/3 part of Jammu and Kashmir.
3. Pakistan since 1989, used cross border terrorism as a tool to give themselves the stronger position on negotiation table vis a vis India.
4. They used the Pakistan army infiltration in 1947 (led to the illegal occupation of 1/3 of Kashmir by Pakistan to this day), 1965 war, 1999 Kargil war to force India to surrender territory while claiming initially that it is Kashmiri separatists.
5. Pakistan army carried out innumerable terrorist attacks in India including 1993 Mumbai Bombings, 2008 Mumbai, Indian Parliament attack, Jammu and Kashmir assembly attack, Pulwama.
5. Pakistan used violence, propaganda to create circumstances which will alienate the population from India e.g. Targeted killings of grass-root politicians.
Duplicity is forwarded as facts:
1. Pakistan is all for peace now while supporting the infrastructure which fuels terrorism across the region be it India or Afghanistan.
2. India rebuffed all peace overtures by Pakistan. India said credible and irreversible action against the infrastructure which fuels terror in the region is needed before we can initiate meaningful dialogue.
3. Pakistan wants peace while killing Kashmiri politicians, burning schools, funding terror.
Conclusion: Talks and terror cannot go together. Stop being a terror supporting state.
10
Imran khan, popularly known as “Selected Prime minister of the Pakistani Junta” has put all the democratic leaders of Pakistan in jail on flimsy charges. The guy has the gals to teach India lesson in democracy and freedom of speech. He and His military bosses should give their own people freedom of choice before taking nonsense about Kashmir.
1
Relevant facts (Part II):
-- Within the part of Jammu and Kashmir that is part of India, a segment of the indigenous population known as Kashmiri Pundits are driven out by the Muslims. Millions of them have become migrants in their own country and were forced to relocate to various parts of India, unable to go home.
-- Pakistan has a problem with India abrogating Article 370, which now allows any Indian citizen to settle in Kashmir or buy property there. But in the portion of Kashmir that Pakistan has occupied in 1948, Pakistan never allowed any special status and allowed Pakistani citizens to settle and live there. The current state of Pakistan is highly hypocritical.
5
Kashmir is india’s state. Stay away. Shake hands with india and that & only that will bring prosperity and development to that region. No china (a communist country.. remember this.. your mujahidin fought against soviet because they were communists) or no US .. will bring prosperity or peace. Its a bilateral issue, keep your part of kashmir and talk peace with india... or.. see india developing J&K .. that will be even more difficult to digest to your army. If you want to convince.. start at home.. if you have guts - convince your army and ISI. Go beyond religion.. for your country’s sake. Enough of atom bomb language. For sure no one can eat it. But people eat Nan. Be very aware of that.
4
I pray to God that some how Pakistan will be helped to help the Kashmiris. Imran Khan is so correct in what he is saying in his letter. Imran Khan is a wise, worldly very well educated leader whose beautiful vision of a new and different Pakistan deserves learning about and understanding from those of you who only know Pakistan from aged stereotypes. Terrorism coming out of Pakistan is over thanks to leadership of Imran Khan (a man well educated at Oxford). The world cannot stand by and do nothing while innocent Kashmiris are arrested, tortured, raped and stripped of their God given human rights. So I hope their is a response from some countries to protect the innocent.
8
Sadly, I believe Imran Khan's remarks to be fair and straight-forward. I say "sadly," because I have had a many-decades long love affair with India and her people and have lived there for over a year just a few years ago. But India under Modi is a different kettle of fish and rife with sectarian anger, anti-democratic practice and corruption masking as nationalism. The young Indians I know from all faiths despise the man and his Hindutva regime. As much as I find the Pakistanis to be captive of their extremism, we need to reevaluate the over-arching political situation now.
413
@DocDave - where is this India you are referring to?
10
@DocDave before you so summarily call Pakistanis extremist go visit. If not at least look at the travel blogs by many European and Americans praising the open simple and welcoming nature of people. They lost 70,000 lives due to terrorism $125 billion in trade and infrastructure losses and 100s K plus in wounded ppl. The army you quoted so readily is the only one that drove out militants. So many soldiers gave their lives. So please if you could not think positively about Pakistan and her people, at the very least you could be fair.
Go visit you will find ppl crazy enough to not except your money when they know you are their as a tourist. They don’t have much but always ready w a smile to give the shirts off their back. I believe you will find that 220 million could not be summarily dismissed due to ignorance.
10
@Sid Gandhi would be appalled by Modi's actions. Nationalism is a stain on humanity.
12
Modi's, mostly referred as 'butcher of Gujrat' due to his hand in killing of thousands of Muslims as Gujrat Chief Minister, is now planning for Kashmiri's genocide. World must take notice of Indian forces atrocities on innocent Kashmiri's.
2
Keeping your fellow countrymen hostage, 1 million of them, is not going to end nicely.
India used to be known for her secularism, but RSS changed that. India is not for Hindus only, never was, never will be.
Countries should not be made for a religion, she should accommodate all religions. She is the MOTHER, hence the word motherland!
2
Kashmiris are settling score scores with Indian fascist forces in streets of Sirinager. India can't suppress them forever. They will get their freedom by this way or that way. They don't need any permission to fight for their freedom. But shame on double standards of human rights champions and United Nations.
1
Mr. Khan
What percentage of the population of Pakistan was Hindu in 1950? What is it now? What happened? What happened to the Kashmiri Pandits? Please learn the history of the conflict in Kashmir, be a leader and take charge of your military, stop supporting Muslim terrorists in India. Peace will follow.
4
Mr. Khan seems to be facing the triple-threat of an angered hindustan, buddistan and jesustan.
1
Where was this response when Hindu Kashmiris were slaughtered in their own land.
3
Not a single elected Pakistani PM has completed their complete tenure, yet.
Non-Muslims can't become PM/President in Pakistan.
Pakistan Army is brutally oppressing Balochis, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Hindus.
There are many cases of forced conversion and disappearances.
Thus, they shouldn't talk about Human Rights as every one knows what Pakistan Army did to Bangladeshi Muslims in 1971.
The number of Pakistani terrorists in the UNSC’s proscribed list has gone up to 146. Pakistan has most citizens & entities after Iraq and Afghanistan in the ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee list.
Pakistani PM Imran Khan supports Talibani terrorists.
Pakistan is neither a Democratic country nor a Secular one.
In short, Pakistan is a failed Jihadi state who uses Terrorism as it's State policy.
6
Very irresponsible for NY Times to publish a biased article from one party on a conflict about which everyone has opinions, based on country they live in and (sadly) their religion. I am very sure most readers of this biased article don't know anything about this conflict and will form opinion based on it.
2
This is a sign of desperation at this moment for #Pakistan. They will pull any strings to get some desperate attention. Have courage to stop sponsoring #terrorism . As former Secretary Of State said You can't keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors. Such a coward, Does Pakistan have the courage to talk about #prosecution of Muslims in China and about million Uighurs in Concentration Camps Xinjiang and about the genocide in Balochistan
2
Pakistan sends terrorists to Kashmir and make the life of Kashmiris miserable.
2
I am an Indian, and feel terribly sad about the actions the Indian government has taken in Kashmir. I hope the situation for our Kashmiri country men and women improves quickly, and all services are restored, and they can get back to their normal lives.
I don't however understand why Imran Khan should make veiled threats about nuclear war because of an action India takes within its borders.
The NYT's Opinion section has so far published two pieces that are more propaganda than opinion. For instance Imran Khan points out that the suicide bomber was Kashmiri but fails to mention that he was trained in Pakistani camps!
The world needs to know what's happening in Kashmir, but not via these propaganda type pieces that are lopsided and far from fair reporting. A look at how The Economist covers this issue will be a good lesson for the NYT.
1
It's sad that the New York Times, a paper I have been reading for the past 40 years has completely lost any objectivity whether it be covering President Trump or any other news. Its just a mouth piece for the Left in American politics and for Pakistan in international coverage. I realize this is an Op-ed but the NY times has been consistently publishing anti-India pieces.
Having said that, I really like Prime Minister Imran Khan and I think Pakistan is a wonderful country. I also agree that there are legitimate problems in Indian Kashmir. However, as usual Muslims love to play the victim card while they are the biggest terrorists in the world. There are plenty of parts of India that have become Muslim majority but nobody has a problem with that. All these commentators here talking about Muslims are persecuted in India have never even set foot in India. Don't believe everything you read. Keep an open mind and make decisions based on facts. It's a well known fact that most minorities have been wiped out from Pakistan. It's rich when Pakistan complains about human rights in India.
2
Modi’s terrorism and Indian’s war hysteria can be fully seen by watching news channels of India . They forgot international law and trying to control Kashmir by killing and suppressing their voice for freedom. They forgot the time when the were fighting for freedom from British on the same basis as Kashmiris are demanding now. I am stunned why World is silent what does that mean ? What should we think about this silence on killing of Kashmiris by terrorist Indian army on the order of biggest terrorist Modi. What they ( international communities)are waiting for ? Are they silent on this bloodshed because they are Muslims ? On this assault why they forgot the lesson which they used to taught everyone by saying we are here to save humanity not for religion? Stop this other wise ready to face the consciences that would be for whole world. Please help Kashmiris to get their right of freedom not by just saying it but taking productive measures on this issue. Don’t just give it to India not to Pakistan but let them decide what they want simple.
2
What utter hypocrisy from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, a country that has backed terrorists in Afghanistan and still does, has backed terrorist cells for decades in India, especially Kashmir, and who has been the number one country illicitly spreading nuclear weapon technology. Kashmir was part of India after the partition, my parents honeymooned there in 1967. I have never seen Kashmir because all the terrorist activity since the 80's sponsored by Pakistan has unsettled it and made tourism difficult. India has bent over backwards for decades, something Pakistan has taken advantage of. Now India says enough, and Pakistan is hypocritical enough to cry foul. Where was Pakistan's worry for decades as their terrorists killed innocent Indians? They talk about the attack on Mosques by the Hindus, yet never bring up the fact that India is the only country in the world that has never started a war. Pakistan has been the aggressor in all of the military actions in Kashmir. I am not thrilled at the heavy handed actions by Modi in securing Kashmir, but having Pakistan cry the victim is astonishingly hypocritical and self serving.
2
This is the same country which was an aggressor in the 1971 conflict with India, was involved in the Kargil misadventure, ran with the hare and hunted with hounds in case of the Taliban and recently sheltered Osama Bin Laden. Now this Prime Minister and his cabinet of warmongers are threatening India with war, however indirectly because India is bringing in Kashmir, its own territory, to the main stream? What chutzpah!!!
Let me be perfectly clear; if there is war, then Pakistan and it's cohort of war mongers are solely responsible for whatever the consequence such war might bring!
2
I could fully agree with Mr Khan if I thought Pakistan had the resources enough to take on the responsibility of IOK, AFTER looking after its own people. But it has not. So why this drama? Since 1948 your predecessors have made several attempts to reach Srinagar and failed every time. When will you, as a nation, give up that ambition to fly your flag in Srinagar? If you do not wish to learn from your own history, Mr Khan, please make your own mistake. Perhaps your successor will learn.
This threat of war, conventional or nuclear, will not sell. You have tried it before and it has not worked. It will not now. India is not a theocratic country, it can not have regional demarcations based on religion. So all this Muslim majority regional identity is pure humbug. Demography all over the world has changed with time, it will in Kashmir too. No one has stopped a Kashmiri from settling in Benaras, none will stop a Keralite from settling in Kashmir.
So Mr Khan, take a chill pill, and allow an idea to take shape whose time has come. I live in a country where almost 10% of the population is Muslim, and Eid is not a national holiday. In India it is. So worry not about ethnic cleansing.....worry about your own people, your economy. You just cannot afford a war.
2
Jammu and Kashmir merged with India according to rules set forth at Partition, that the ruler could decide. Balochistan joined Pakistan in the same manner. There were over 500 rulers who decided this way.
Nehru foolishly referred the matter to the UN which passed a non-binding resolution that called for a referendum but only after Pakistan withdrew any men it sent, in uniform or not.
Pakistan did not comply with that so the issue of a referendum is moot.
The issue received its final nail in the coffin when the demographics changed. Over a million Hindus were driven out or killed from J & K, another 2.4 million Hindus were killed in east Pakistan and Pakistan itself, that is West Pakistan, ethnically cleansed all Sikhs and most Hindus.Some 7 million Hindus and Sikhs fled to India and they were the original inhabitants of what is now Pakistan.
Furthermore, India's Muslim population is equal to that of Pakistan, over 200 million. So the religion card is no longer valid.
If Muslims occupying Kashmir wants to be NOT Indian then they must leave India and go to Pakistan. That is why Pakistan was created.
Pakistan itself is very unstable. The army killed over 250,000 Balochis because they never wanted to be part of Pakistan. There are secessionist movements in Balochistan and the KP province of Pakistan.
What we should do instead is to allow any Muslim from any part of India to migrate to Pakistan or to Bangladesh so as to complete Partition.
2
Imran Khan has clearly elucidated the threat faced by South Asians today because of India's shift to RSS idealogy and fascism. Lynching of muslims and other religious minorities is increasing in India. A genocide of muslims and other minorities in India is looking ever more likely than not. Modi's rule in Gujrat previously led to the killings of more than 2000 muslims. Now he is at the helm at the center. It has only been getting worse every day since then for all minorities in India. I hope the world realise this and intervene before it is too late.
1
Substitute Kashmir for the West Bank for the Senkakus for the Donbas for the DMZ for Taiwan for the Falklands. Then take a step back and see the portrait of a world on the brink. Too many of these relatively small strips of land could end our planet.
What a shame.
30
While I can agree with every thing said in this piece by Mr. Khan, it would be nice if he applied the same principles he espouses to Afghanistan and stopped funding armed groups there.
More to the point, however, what makes the situation in Kashmir so dangerous, is that we have a president and an administration who will not bother to read and can't understand what Mr. Khan is saying. The complexities are too much for Trump, he doesn't have the attention span to get through this, and his instinct is to align himself with the nationalist policies of Mr. Modi, he shares the same mindset.
And so, we have another example of the dangers created by the US surrender of world leadership and engagement.
600
@PNBlanco We're trying to do that. We have made mistakes in the past, so have you.
Imran Khan always said there is only way to ensure peace in Afghanistan. And that is dialogue. Now Pakistan is helping you in the dialogue process because it is in everyone's interest.
76
@PNBlanco , maybe you are not updated about recent changes in pakistan's policies in Afghanistan since Imran Khan is elected. Just do some google and find out how and why US and Taliban are close to striking a peace deal. By the way, the terrorist groups created, funded, trained by and glorified by US in 1980s were not so easy to be gotten rid of. So, Pakistan had to deal with them politely in the aftermath when US packed its stuff and left Afghanistan in a mess off civil war after Soviet Union defeat there. Anyway, just look around and see how Imran Khan has actually made a concrete progress to facilitate US-Taliban peace deal in Afghanistan.
191
@Ali
The facts are that a lot of the US aid to the Mujahidin in Afghanistan had to be funneled through Pakistan and was controlled by the ISI at their instance. The ISI has had a vested interest in keeping the anti American forces in play in part to keep Afghanistan unstable.
24
I concur with the prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. Kashmir is an independent nation that has the right to choose its destiny. Rather than being placed under a curfew, the Kashmiris should be allowed the democratic right to vote for the future of their country. Kashmir does not belong to either Pakistan or India, but has a right to exist as its own state.
38
@Khan Then Pakistan should declare the official independence of its side of Kashmir immediately and withdraw its troops unilaterally. This is a chance for Pakistan to show some real leadership on the issue.
33
I would like to urge PM Imran Khan to close Pakistani Air Space and trade route for India until the Fascist Indian regime takes back the articles. The world will never take action unless its in their interest. Pakistan must take actions to the extent where it becomes world's interest. You know what I am talking about
1
These days in Kashmir young girls are being kidnaped and raped by indian soldiers. These innocent girls are kept with indian soldiers at their stations for days. One or two males of almost every family have been arrested and are being ruthlessly tortured every day in indian jails. They will ultimately be killed as well. All the world must take notice of it and make india stop all such atrocities and genocide otherwise we Pakistanis are ready to fight even a nuclear war with india soon to save Kashmiris.
1
Mr. Khan seems to be blackmailing
1
As Obama would always say, “this has nothing to do with Islam.”
1
Pakistan is gray listed for sponsoring terrorism. In addition, Imran Khan and its PTI party is too busy sponsoring taliban to kill the US Soldiers across the border in Afghanistan. Isn’t it ironic that NYT is choosing not to press him on that. This is a liberal bias at its most hippocratic heights.
1
The solution is to give Kashmir indipendence from Pakistan, India and China.
1
Yes The world cant ignore Kashmir
1
Well done Mr PM khan..
1
Pakistan is a terrorist state. They aided and abetted bin Laden. India is far from perfect but Indians aren't trying to kill Americans. I don't have a dog in this fight but America should side with its allies and against those wanting us dead. I'm sick of both sidesing this issue and I've had enough of the canard that without the Pakistani government's assistance we'd have been attacked again. It's like telling a rape victim to thank her rapist for not assaulting her lately.
4
Pakistan's leader is acting as an adult and the indian leader need's to be more mature in todays world. No citizens of any country likes to be threatened or kept as hotages like Kashmiri citizens; who are going through this horrifying life for more than 70 years and wants to be the part of pakistan. If indian leadership thinks harrasing pakistan with nuclear threats and torturing the kashmiris will benefit the indian economy, then indian citizens must settledown with a solid grip as it will damage more or less 1.37 billion people in india. SAY NO TO WAR, FREE THE KASHMIRI'S. NO MORE INDIA OCCUPIED KASHMIR.
2
This IS the same Pakistan that harbored Bin Laden (right next to its version of West Point) and has been protecting the architect of the Mumbai massacre since that horrific event. Yes, every six months or so they sit him down in protective custody only to release him to his fine life a short time later.
They have intentionally destabilized Afghanistan for decades figuring its good geo-politics for them.
Until India becomes the Belaggio Hotel for mass murderers in the same way Pakistan is, I support anything India does in dealing with these terrorists.
4
See the words for Mr. Imran Khan, How politely he is asking the world to intervene and demanding peace, is this the way to ask for peace with a threat of nuclear war in his article, does this mindset will help to move towards peace. Is this the way of asking for peace???? And he mentioned that India is giving nuclear threat, but he seems to be blind on his wordings and the comments of his party leaders and even himself. Even the stands in his parliament and pass comments for nuclear war like a fool and his statements show his immaturity about nuclear war. Every second man in Pakistan ask for nuclear war (Media, politicians, and civilians) without knowing its consequences unlike that every Pakistani ask for UN resolution fulfillment but not a single of them has read it, thats why they don't know that the first condition of the resolution has to be fulfilled by Pakistan. Even Christine from the USA has written a book on it and has clearly mentioned in her book that Pakistan has no legal rite on Kashmir.
2
the reality base facts has been written in this article. pakistan never promote terrorism in kashmir. its simple to understand that its civil war against illegal occupation by indian army .if india believes on this that kashmir is part of india than why they dont give a right of SELF DETERMINATION to people of kashmir. if the fight against indian army in kashmir by kashmiri people is illegal or its terrorism than all civil wars against illegal occupations are based on terrorism . does not matter even its civil war against british empire by George Washington or its french civil war or even war against racism by Nelson MANDELA
1
I am no fan of Trump, but have to say this is a devious propaganda article. This man called Imran Khan has for the longest time been a career cricket player. He is a deliberately cultivated moderate face of that country's military-intelligence apparatus that has ties with myriad jihadi groups which salivate at the thought of harming kafirs of all hues. These jihadi groups has been Pakistani military's important foreign relations weapon.
He blames India for helping blacklist Pakistan for funding terrorists. Anyone truly familiar with that region will find this laughable. For one can he deny the support that terrorists have received and continue to receive in Pakistan now under cover? That support is noted and attested by various intelligence agencies in the world. The horrendous terrorists attacks in Mumbai in 2008 in which Indians, Jews and westerners were categorically targeted, were orchestrated by one such jihadi group that enjoys support in Pakistan. Till date that group has not been brought to justice.
Mr. khan and the entire Pakistani establishment is currently on a ridiculous overdrive to paint an apocalypse in South Asia. Through wild exaggerations they are deliberately promoting violence against Indians and trying to create a self-fulfilling prophecy - case in point is the vicious violent attacks by Pakistani groups against the Indian high commission in UK and those of Indian origin who were peacefully gathered to participate India's independence day in London.
2
In whole scenario, I just keep wondering where is United Nations? For what and for whom it was formed? Keeping all the rivalries between Pakistan and India aside, I just ask UN why can't it see barbarism and human rights violation in Kasmir? If this organization is so futile and purposeless, then stop doing dramas of upliftment of humanity.
1
Dear PM Khan,
Let us not forget the 1999 Kargil war - readily instigated by forces under then Chief of Staff Mr Musarraf and former PM Mr Sharif.
Sufficient soft stances have already been taken by India in the past - and the perversity by which the same was regarded by your predecessors are well known to you.
It has long been made clear by the Indian Government that matters related to Art 370 has been and will remain internal. Making references to World war 2 or Münchner Abkommen doesn’t strike the right notes.
I guess at this point in time, your single focus should be on fixing your country’s economy and ensuring political stability and matters related to such.
3
I must admire how effectively Pakistani state and military is able to influence and feed western media houses with false and half baked information.
1. Kashmir is disputed between India and Pakistan - there has never been a third option discussed in UN or other agreements
2. India is a democratic, secular country that wants Kashmiris to enjoy the same values and opportunities that is available to the rest of the country
3. Pakistan has purged the country of minorities to a very small fraction now. Kashmiris have done the same in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh (parts of the same state)
4. India has troops in Kashmir because Pakistan has been sponsoring and supporting terrorists with arms, training and funding to create instability. Why does the west not consider this to be unacceptable?
India is complicated and diverse and by no means perfect but this is the largest democracy in the world today and that is a miracle by itself. Pakistan's only contribution to this world is terrorism. Bangladesh, which was a part of Pakistan is now ahead of Pakistan per all social and economic indicators. The greatest threat to mankind is Pakistan possessing nuclear weapons. If the west does not focus on that then Pakistan will find some excuse to use them sooner or later.
3
Rich words coming from the PM of Pakistan. Pakistan has jailed most major opposition leaders. It aided and abetted terror in India and Afghanistan. Inspite of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage perpetrated by Pak terrorists that country has failed to punish any of the masterminds. In Pakistan jihadi terror outfits like Jaish e Muhammed or Lashkar e Taiba openly trains its soldiers and raises funds openly with tacit support of PakMil and its intel. This is the same Pakistan which sheltered Osama bin Laden for years while also feasting on the US aid. Pakistan and India both know that the LoC have to be turned to IB as no major change to border is feasible between two nuclear armed nations. Pak general turned president Musharraf almost reached an agreement with Indian PM Manmohan Singh to convert LoC to international border but then Musharraf got toppled. Mind you Pakistan tried several times in the past to forcibly capture Kashmir in 1948, 1965 and 199 but failed each time. Every time there was peace overture from India such as Indian PM Vajpayee or Manmohan Singh Pak sent its terror outfits to cause mayhem in India. What its Punjabi elite really worried is Indian control of the sources of major rivers of Pakistan. Pakistan has been dropping the nuclear war hint since last two decades to get international intervention. So nothing new coming from Mr. Khan. India is determined to have a multi cultural multi religious Kashmir such as rest of India; Pakistan and Imran Khan notwithstanding.
4
Without any ethical leadership on the world stage, Modi has found his chance to occupy the people of Kashmir. Why should we be surprised? First it was the Russian annexation of Crimea, then China's atrocities against their Uyghur population -- these acts have gone largely unchecked by world powers. In the age of Trump, who can we expect to come to the aid of the Kahmiris?
1
The Kashmiri Hindus support Indian governments decision. The Kashmiri Sikhs support Indian governments decision.
The Kashmiri Buddhists support Indian governments decision.
The Kashmiri Christians support Indian governments decision.
They together make about 40-45% of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kashmiri muslims mostly oppose Indian governments decision. Now Kashmiri Muslims make up less than 1% of India's population and less than 3% of Indian muslims population.
The issue in Kashmir has nothing to do with human rights but everything to do with Islam and islmaic separatism. If border districts in USA with Mexico, having majority population of Mexican descent, wanted to join mexico along with those border districts , will US govt allow that, while people of Mexican descent continue to live freely in rest of USA ?
No.
Similarly Indian government cannot allow separatism demands based on religious identity. However kashmiri muslims who wish to live in a islamic state are free to move over to adjoining Pakistan.
The best solution is transfer of those muslims from kashmir in India to kashmir in Pakistan, who wish to live in a islamic state.
India must now allow territorial division on religious grounds. That was done in 1947 with creation of Pakistan and is the final division.
Similarly Indian gover
2
For how long the Indians will keep believing that Modi and the Indian media are telling the truth and the international media is selling lies.
If Kashmir is an integral part of India why there are hundreds of thousands of Indian military personnel there and the Kashmiris are under a never ending curfew.
In this day and age the so-called biggest democracy of the world believes that the aspirations for freedom can be bought by the promises of economic betterment. How ironic!
1
Indeed Kashmir would be won or lost by winning the hearts and minds of the people and not by bullets. Offcourse, 'won' or 'lost' is the Indian and Pakistani point of view. Nobody has asked the Kashmiris. But Mr Khan does not say how or why India's action on article 370 would get Pakistan into a nuclear war with India. Surely, Pakistan will not get into war with India because of India's actions in a territory that India controls, would it? Or is this opinion piece more of a palimpsest and a call to arms? Pakistan's moral bankruptcy gives poor standing to challenge India's actions. Remenber the rape genocide of East Pakistan in 1971 that the (then named) West Pakistan carried on the then-named East Pakistan (aka Bangladesh)? Or even the recent history of them supporting the Taliban via the ISI and off course housing Bin Laden?
3
Mr. Modi is an acclaimed terrorist. It's not anyone's allegation, but his credentials transpire his plans and 'radical' ideology. Today Pakistan and Kashmir tomorrow Nepal, Bhutan, Srilanka, and Tibet. His radical plan have no full stop. Albeit, he may be successful in projecting the veracity of his deeds but at the expense of the deteroration of the social fabric of India. Subcontinent has always been multiethnic, culturally diverse. How could sole passion to dominate 'Subcontinet' with radical, orthodox, chauvinist and unbridled Hindu hegemony survive? Never, ever. What India has to hide by incapsulating the Kashmiris in their homes for last 28 days. Even the brutal actions to circumvent the crisis would prompt any other Kashmir boy to explode another bomb- to grasp his right of freedom and a new charade of terrorim would be mongored by India. Pakistan would respond and one day the situation may lead to 'Nuclear escalation'. Mr. Modi would be happy to see Hindus getting dominating because Pakistan's Islamic bomb will target Hindus only and their's Muslims only. Time for the world to wake up. Let sanity prevail!
1
If the world does nothing to stop the Indian assault on Kashmir and its people, two nuclear-armed states will get ever closer to a direct military confrontation, writes the prime minister of one of the nuclear-armed states. Disingenuous much?
1
It is a very volatile situation for the world peace. KASHMIR is bleeding and WORLD is silent and sleeping , WHY ???
For the last four weeks curfew has been imposed in Kashmir by the Indian government and its brutal army. There is shortage of food, medicine and thousands of young persons have been arrested. India has violated all norms of international law and is refusing to solve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the security council Resolutions.
Free Kashmiries and give them the right to self determination. You cannot imprison a nation and deny them their basic rights . Does the world want to close its eyes and let INDIA use force to enslave the population of KASHMIR.
MIGHT IS RIGHT but fear the day when a cornered nation raises arms to end the oppression of its people. DO NOT let it end in an atomic explosion between two nuclear states. IS the doom day near. WORLD'S POWERS HAVE THE ANSWER.!!!
1
Mr Khan , please be careful for using such harsh language for Indian Prime minister Mr Modi who has won with overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections of the largest democracy in the world.
Mr Khan There are enough examples in the history ( 26/11 Mumbai to name just one ) to prove Pakistani credentials on terrorism. So reconsider your words on regional peace when you happen to be PM of a country known for sponsoring terrorism.
Indians will take good care of Kashmiri people, and there will be peace just as you want Mr Khan - but just when Pakistan stops sponsoring terrorism !
2
Imran Khan is really sincere about resolving this problem ( Kashmir issue ) and elevating poverty from both the countries India and Pakistan by bilateral trade and other efforts . But paradoxically Mr modi is not in the mood ! He violated all the UN resolutions about Kashmir by revoking the article 370 of the Indian constitution ( kashmir's special status and others ) made the situation worst . Deployed almost one million security personals ....24/7 carfew ... Violating basic humans rights is purely his rasist mentality which is unacceptable for kashmirs and Pakistan .
Kashmirs Issue should be resolved according to UN security council resolutions about kashmir otherwise we Pakistani will go to every extent ! It's now upto UN and world !
This is the voice of every kashmiri , Pakistani and almost every Muslim .
2
Some q n a:
1. Was Kashmir always like this ?
Ans. No Kashmir was peaceful until 1989.
2. What happened in 1989 ?
Ans. Pakistan repurposed mujahideen terrorists it cultivated from Afghanistan to Kashmir to stoke violence and religious tensions.
3. Who is responsible for creation of separatist ?
Ans. Battle between Indian army and Militants from Pakistan resulted in inconveniencing Kashmiris and in some cases causing loss of life of their family members, turning them against India
4. Who's responsible for current violence ?
Ans. In a way Pakistan is responsible for every thing.
5. What can Imran Khan do to help Kashmir ?
Ans. Stop cross border terrorism for a year and Kashmir will be back its best. India can then restore it's statehood.
3
Kashmir is an Indian territory and how it is managed is responsibility of Govt of India. All citizens within the country must have one constitution, one law and one national identity. Mr Modi is trying hard to provide economic opportunities to conflict ridden Kashmir region.
The best way to solve the Kashmir region is bring prosperity and peace to the region and this can only be achieved by bringing new investments, job opportunities to the Kashmiri youths and this is possible by brining Kashmir under the same law as the rest of the region.
If Mr Khan is truly cares about Kashmir people, he should stop the cross border terrorism run by ISI or sponsored by other institutions. Pakistan economy cannot sustain a very large expenditure on military or ill-advised military mis-adventure with India.
Finally, International community is not going to help you with anything. They couldn't stop Russia's adventure into Ukraine. Yes, you may get op-ed published and get some PR drama and couple of articles.
Mr Khan, Please focus your energy in improving the life of Pakistan citizens and not spend your time in what's happening in another country.
2
it is amazing and laughable to see that Imran Khan and Pakistan playing the victim. The country sponsors terrorism, hid Bin Laden and systematically destroyed democracy. A opinion piece in NY times is not going to change these facts. Kashmir is part of India and a historic fallacy has been rectified.
2
IK words must be taken seriously. Its not just Kashmir its beyond Kashmir. India wants to have a trade route to Central Asian countries and Pakistan would not allow it for its own reasons. The fact is Indian secular elite is silent and RSS leaders living in Koko world believing they can do whatever they like. If nuclear war breaks up the biggest looser will be India no doubt Pakistan will have same fate. The UN which is a joke organisation anyway is watching with amusement. So its the educated community on both side to stand up against this rhetoric and manics of extremism. Otherwise its a parrot repeating same words for 70 years. Make Kashmir independent where both India and Pakistan have equal right in trade and military free zone. Its the only option. Full stop
1
Well said Imran Khan. The world is deaf and only counts bodies after a calamity and label it genocide. One day when Modi is not viable anymore he will stand trial for acts against humanity in Gujrat and Kashmir. Till then you be the voice of sanity especially for Muslims as Muslim lives do not matter.
It is sad to see a more prosperous and better educated neighbour rules by Modi and lauded by many. A great fall from grace.
Kashmir crisis started when the newly formed nation of Pakistan pushed thousands of marauding tribals from Pashtun provinces into Kashmir in 1947. These tribals were given an open license to loot the wealth and women of kashmur. The desperate Maharaja of Kashmir asked for Indian help and signed the instrument of accession. Nehru in his idealistic folly went to UN, which recommended a ceasefire and a plebiscite, once all armed forces were withdrawn. Pakistan never withdrew its forces and ethnically cleaned hindus from its side of Kashmir. Further it took Gilgit Baltistan area of the princely state of kashmir and integrated it, and to top it all gifted a substantial chunk of this land to China. Since, then Pakistan has fomented trouble in Indian Kashmir, culminating in genocide of Kashmiri hindus in 1980s/90s. Now Mr. Imran Khan has the temerity of lecturing India about talks and human rights, with the threat of nuclear weapons. This is even rich coming from a country whose official name is "Islamic republic of Pakistan" where apostasy and blasphemy are death sentence offenses routinely used on minorities. This is the nation which raised Taliban, and cultured Osama and Zawahiri, and finally sheltered Osama for a decade while posing as an American ally. This is the nation where military intelligence asset and 911 planner Omar Shiekh Saeed butchered Daniel Pearl. The planners and handlers of Mumbai attack roam free even today.
2
This is India's internal issue and Prime Minister Modi took correct action. Mr. Imran Khan(with all due respect..he is one of my favorite cricketers) wrote that article to draw international attention and sympathy. He's already knocked on so many doors including The United States Of America, but received negative feedback. He should stop all thus nonsense and face it like a man.
1
"May 1 2001 - New York Times
WASHINGTON — Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the most devastating attack on American soil in modern times and the most hunted man in the world, was killed in a firefight with United States forces in Pakistan, President Obama announced on Sunday.
He was hiding in the medium-sized city of Abbottabad, home to a large Pakistani military base and a military academy of the Pakistani Army."
Why should US support Pakistan, a nation which had been protecting our enemy Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of horrific 9/11 murder and destruction in New York?
Imran Khan now wants to use the threat on nuclear weapons. He threatens the whole world with a nuclear fallout. We, US citizens need to take note and ensure Imran Khan is bridled.
2
how can anyone take a faux democratic dictatorial country being run by the army under the veneer of democracy that is brazenly fostering and advocating terrorism seriously?
2
Not a single Pakistani politician can win any election without talking about Kashmir. Mr Khan, please pay attention.... Kashmir issue has been solved.....it was, is and will remain part of India. May be you will win again if you pay attention to Pakistan's economy and internal terrorism.
2
Everyone knows it the Pakistan military in charge of the country. They use the civilian elected body to further their cause to destroy India. Why do they name their missiles after the early invaders of India? They are the ones who sent irregulars from Baluchistan to Kashmir to illegally annex it before the king could make his decision to either join India or Pakistan. Further they did not withdraw the invaders per UN resolution for a plebiscite. Who is to blame Mr. Khan? Look what happened in Kargil. General Musharaff's misadventure. Attempts at trust betrayed forcing India's hand. No sir Mr. Khan, India cannot trust you. First make peace with your military.
1
A Beggar threatening go to war wont be taken seriously by anyone. Will Saudi Arabia give oil for free to fight a war against India? The answer is no. Case over. Ignore this selected PM and move on in life.
1
I disagree with Mr Khan's argument. Terrorist activities from the soil of Pakistan has ruined its own reputation. Terror attacks on Mumbai was orchestrated in Pakistan. It has been said roots of Pulwama attacks were in Pakistan. Why was Pakistan silent all along when Kashmiri Pundits were driven out of their homeland and their wives and daughters were raped by terrorists? What is the plight of Hindus in Pakistan. Hindu girls are forcefully converted to Islam and married to muslim men? Does Mr Khan has answers for atrocities against hindus in Pakistan and Kashmir? Gujarat riots started after muslim mob burnt 90 hindus alive in train. Mr Khan should focus more on poverty issues in Pakistan instead of unwanted war rhetoric.
2
These are the ramblings of a man who has no real options but does have a nuclear bomb, and would really really like the world to know about his nuclear bomb.
Mr. Khan has made a few points that are worth rebutting
1. He asserts that the Indian government is antisemitic. Never-mind that India Israel relations have never been stronger and there are no reported antisemitic incidents in India. Contrast that with Pakistan where antisemitic rhetoric is a constant feature on cable television. The urdu words "yahoodi" (a jew) and "bania" (a hindu) are routinely used as curse words in Pakistan. When one hears the words "secularism" and "democracy", Pakistan is not what immediately comes to mind.
2. Mr. Khan laments on India's possible abrogation of its no first use policy w.r.t nuclear weapons. Pakistan does not itself have such a policy but expects India to continue having it. In a game of brinksmanship predictability comes at a cost. At some point India might want to stop being predictable, which has only worked to the advantage of Pakistan. If Mr. Khan wants a no first use policy, perhaps he should ask the army rulers of Pakistan to start this at home.
3. It is rich that Mr. Khan is making arguments regarding the constitutionality of abrogating article 370. His faith in the India constitution sort of defeats the purpose of having an "Islamic Republic of Pakistan"
The world must not reward Pakistan for this nuclear blackmail.
3
Kashmiri people should have all basic human rights which every people of other countries have. India Is doing human voilations in kashmir. India should know now that they can not win the hurts of kashmiri people with force, They been trying that through 70 years and now indian govt is being run by RSS terrorists they should be banned, otherwise whole world will be affected by those steps which india has taken last month.
1
I never thought I would be sympathetic to Pakistan, but this may be an exception.
45
Modi has murdered secularism in India.
3
Yet another nuclear black mailing by Pakistan.
2
It seems that the people of Kashmir were promised some degree of autonomy, and to not be dominated by either state. International agreements should be honored. Kashmir should be set free, as should any Kashmiris who’ve been imprisoned in India.
Sorry, India and my Indian friends, but you don’t get to do to others as was done, so many years ago, to you.
14
The Kashmiri Hindus support Indian governments decision. The Kashmiri Sikhs support Indian governments decision.
The Kashmiri Buddhists support Indian governments decision.
The Kashmiri Christians support Indian governments decision.
They together make about 40-45% of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kashmiri muslims mostly oppose Indian governments decision. Now Kashmiri Muslims make up less than 1% of India's population and less than 3% of Indian muslims population.
The issue in Kashmir has nothing to do with human rights but everything to do with Islam and islmaic separatism. If border districts in USA with Mexico, having majority population of Mexican descent, wanted to join mexico along with those border districts , will US govt allow that, while people of Mexican descent continue to live freely in rest of USA ?
No.
Similarly Indian government cannot allow separatism demands based on religious identity. However kashmiri muslims who wish to live in a islamic state are free to move over to adjoining Pakistan.
The best solution is transfer of those muslims from kashmir in India to kashmir in Pakistan, who wish to live in a islamic state.
India must NOT allow territorial division on religious grounds. That was done in 1947 with creation of Pakistan and is the final division.
49
Mr. Imran Khan sounds genuine, but the history of Pakistan ‘s involvement in destabilizing the peace in the region through sponsoring terrorism, and the fact that the military in Pakistan restricts his actions, make his words sound hollow. It is hypocritical of him to accuse India of Hindu chauvinism when his country’s constitution is based on Islamic principles and people of Pakistan do not even remotely enjoy human rights available to the citizens of India. Pakistan has to show a clear intent though actions rather than mere words to convince India, or the world, of their renouncement of training and support to terrorists. With this letter, Mr. Khan has further pushed India in a non-compromising situation.
173
@NR
It is your cross-border terrorism that is responsible for these actions. If you stop your terrorism then you will see how India reacts!
Are you not aware that the 37-nation Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held its plenary meeting in Paris last week where it placed Pakistan on a watchlist of the countries where terrorist outfits are still allowed to raise funds ?
And you have the audacity to claim otherwise?
3
@MVS
What india is doing in Balochistan??what about Kalboshan Yadive??
6
@MVS free kashmir there will be peace in region. Just because of kashmir there is no peace in region every one realize that. Indian govt is being run by RSS terrorists first ban all those terrorists than talk on peace. What u people are doing in kashmir since 70 years the word peace does not suits u.
4
The messenger matters. Imran Khan, derisively referred to by liberals in Pakistan as "Taliban Khan", has zero credibility. If he were truly committed to peace with India, he would have handed over the perpetrators of the Mumbai massacre to INdia. Currently they are national heroes there.
So yeah, nice try.
11
Enlightening and informative piece from PM Khan -- as well as the reader comments. Khan has strong words for India and Narendra Modi. Will/has the New York Times offer PM Modi an opportunity to respond?
7
Imran Khan is raising the nuclear bogie and threatening India and the world with nuclear war. The entire state of J&K, including Pakistan and Chinese occupied territories are an integral part of India as per the assimilation of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has been the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world. In fact, every terrorist activity that occurs anywhere in the world finds its footprint in Pakistan. Pakistan has always played a double game with US right after 9/11 extracting money from US and supporting terrorist organizations from its soil. For the last 20 years, Pakistan supported terrorists have killed 70000 Kashmiris and 5000 Indian security forces. Pakistani terrorists caused 26/11 in India, Pulwama terrorist attack, Uri terrorist attack and hundreds of terrorist attacks all throughout India in the last 20 years. Every time, Indian government prepared dossiers for evidence and provided to Pakistan. Pakistan never acted to arrest these terrorists master minds, never shut down the Hakkani network and Jaise-e-Mohammad. How long India can continue to shed blood of Kashmiri people? How long? Pakistan is not on the FATF blacklist because of India but because the world has recognized Pakistan as a terrorist state. The RSS is the most respected organization of volunteer Indians with members from every caste and religion in India. Comparing RSS with Nazis by Imran Khan is shameful and shows his complete ignorance of India and RSS.
7
US foreign policy and presence in Asia? MIA.
2
enough already....india doesn't need a lecture from Pakistan or China on human rights.
Currently, Kashmir is a convenient subject to distract PakistanI citizens from the economic crises they are facing.....hence this hoopla and op-eds....
If NY Times is really concerned, maybe an op-ed from Arundhati Roy is more appropriate. she hates what India is doing in Kashmir, but at least she wants to do the right thing for Kashmiris.
Heard enough from Imran Khan. Time to disengage a failing nation.
6
Kashmir is the separate state and give importance to the ideology of Kashmiri people. Inam Jan Waziristani And Khurram Khan Yousafzai
I am amazed that the Prime Minister of a nation well known for terrorism is given an opinion piece place in this newspaper. Sometimes the narrative and hate against India and Hindus espoused in New York Times makes me wonder if I am reading The Dawn or similar newspapers.
Rather interesting to note that there is no mention of the plight of Kashmiri Hindus or Hindus remaining in Pakistan.
Shameful to say the least
13
Is NYT now the platform for the prime minister of Pakistan, a country that has caused tremendous harm to the US and loss of thousands of American lives by harboring and training terrorists, to convey a blatantly naked threat of nuclear war? Does NYT have a clear understanding of when an Indian Airline plane was hijacked in December 1999 and India was compelled to release terrorists, including Masood Azhar, that it led directly to 9/11? It is irresponsible journalism against the interests of free societies everywhere to print such an op-ed that is devoid of any merit or truth. Your reporting on the elections in India in May this year was far off the mark and your recent reporting from Kashmir is worthy of being tagged with nothing except being fake news.
Kashmir is not a disputed territory, no matter how many times NYT or Pakistanis repeat this blatant and entirely unfounded lie. It irrevocably became a part of India in 1947 after its then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession, the same document that was signed by over 500 princely states. The abrogation of article 370, a temporary provision to start with, is the right path of progress.
Pakistan terrorized/brutalized more than half of its own citizens which resulted in creation of Bangladesh in 1971 with 10 million refugees in India. The less said about what Pakistan has done in the part of Kashmir it holds or occupies, the better. And the same holds true for what China has done in Ladakh and Tibet.
13
Trump can’t even pronounce Kashmir, let alone find it on a map. All he knows is “dictator good, Muslim bad. He’ll be of no help to you, Mr. Khan.
2
Fox is crying that it is threatened by a hen!
Pakistan is an Islamic Republic. Islam is its State Religion! This is how the preamble of Pakistan's Constitution begins:
"CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN1(In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.) THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN [12TH APRIL, 1973] Preamble Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust;"
Did you notice that Pakistan claims "sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone" ?
Pakistan used mercenaries to attack and occupy a large part of a sovereign state of the Kingdom of Kashmir under king Hari Singh in 1947. Whereas, India has internationally recognized legal Instrument of Accession signed by the ruler and the Constituent Assembly of Kashmir, in 1957, declared that Kashmir is an INTEGRAL PART OF INDIA without any conditions!
India has invested hundreds of Billions of dollars in Kashmir since 1947. Official Audit Report says Each Kashmiri citizen received over 91,000 rupees per person while the citizen from Uttar Pradesh received only 4,300 per person.
Kashmiri citizens have special privileges that are not available to the rest of Indians. They can freely settle, can do business, can buy property, can do jobs, attend any educational institution, in any part of India but not Indians in Kashmir.
7
Thing is modi is life long supporters n member of RSS which is extrem right hindu party. Which killed Mahatma Gandhi as they believed he created Pakistan.
The concept of Akhand bharat is core of RSS ideology. World will be wrong if they think Modi and RSS will stoo at kashmir only
1
Prime Minister Khan's arguments would carry greater weight if he confined himself to discussing the issue at hand from Pakistan's perspective rather than repeatedly mentioning his big stick and then finishing with a Hitler reference. Most worrisome.
4
Its strange that India's measures are for benefit of Kashmiris but no journalists, global peace keepers or even Indian Opposition Leaders are allowed to visit the region to watch the true conditions on ground. Kashmiris living outside India are concerned about their families with no contact whatsoever for days. The ground conditions are suitable for a bigger Genocide by Mr Modi after Gujrat. I hope relevant powers in the world save the innocent in Kashmir from Modern day Hitler who raised to power by provoking similar nationalist sentiments.
2
Good Decision PM Imran Khan to inform the world about the kashmir issue.Now no one cannot say that we are not know about kashmir issue.Allah is With you PM Imran Khan we will win in kashmir iNshALLAH.
1
This puppet of Army has so much time to write articles in Western newspapers. He talks about Indian attack after Pulwama but forgets how he protected International terrorists like Hafeez Saeed and Masood Azhar.
Imran if you are so concerned about Muslim rights in Kashmir then you should also be concerned about Uighur Muslim rights in China but you are quiet when China is killing and torturing Uighur Muslims. Since China gives aid to Pakistan, you are not concerned about the Human rights in China. Stop doing propaganda in Western newspapers, utilize the time to do betterment of your country.
5
Time to stand for prosperity of the whole world. Its time of globalization not hatred. Imran Khan wants to remove poverty of this region but Modi jee agenda is not looks for humanity.
3
He conveniently forgot to mention that militant Islamists aided by Pakistan did the real ethnic cleansing by chasing away/killing/raping the Kashmiri Pundits who became refugees in their own country.
Making it legal to buy land is not the same as ethnic cleansing and its absurd to suggest that.
And one more thing, a country where journalists who don’t toe the party line routinely disappear and end up dead in gutters has no moral authority to speak of human rights
9
Prime Minister of Pakistan has very well explained the vicious ideology of the Modi's BJPs Mother party R.S.S. The world is obsessed with Trade and Profits and a Nuclear Crisis is looming. Resurrection of Hitler has happened in South Asia and the history of appeasement is repeating itself. Pakistan is clear in its direction, rollback the annexation and then Pakistan with allow India a place on the dialoge table.
1
I think Imran Khan has grown into stature as a statesman with peace overtures and cool and calm but confident demeanor. Kashmir is the mother of all conflicts. India is a big country and clearly it is being observed that its troops are choking Kashmiris who are not happy with a union with India. Modi's rise may have complicated the situation to worse with his nazi inspired views about Muslims, Christians and Dalits. This is a clear and present danger because the world can not afford to appease a reincarnation of Hitler in modi, because that could be catastrophic. The Kashmiris are overwhelmingly very polite and peaceful people but it pains me that their noses are being rubbed on the ground and the threats of perverted Hindutva RSS CM from BJP called for marrying (fair skinned) Kashmiri girls. Thats atrocious. I also got to see from the books that Modi butchered thousands of Muslims in Gujarat and therefore is dubbed as butcher of Gujarat. Thats terrible! So the world has a chance to undo the devilish ideas of modi and promote gandhian views of non violence (interestingly nathuram godse the killer of Gandhi also belonged to Modi's RSS)
1
How can Mr Khan be so hypocritical while bashing Mr Modi's guru of being an anti semite while at the same time Pakistan doesn't even recognize Israel & does not allow its citizens to travel to Israel. There are no formal diplomatic ties between Israel & Pakistan & there are very good diplomatic ties between India & Israel. Now tell me Mr Khan who is anti semite?
9
Kashmir and its people Both are not important yo imran . Imran need just kashmir for boost their economy and about ideology imran just use people for their islamic ideology. Here in india we allways live equal for all . About killing of terror in kasmir happening from 70yr almost not today only. And now is the time to stop this. But pakistan heighlight this bcs its going to be stop...
What pakistani so called PM who run by Army what he think and thought , Who care ?
He need to collect money to pay their Office bill. Rather then spread hate beyonds the border. Kasmir in not in pakistan. #jaiHiND
2
Mr Khan, would you kindly explain why Pakistan, having illegally, and in contravention of UN resolutions, annexed its portion of Kashmir decades ago, now cries itself hoarse about India? And NYT, would you care to explain how and why only the Indian portion of Kashmir is a threat to world peace, and a nuclear flashpoint, but not the Pakistani part of it? Does NYT know, and would Mr Khan care to admit, how bad the conditions are in Gilgit-Baltistan? (Heck, does the NYT even know of the existence of Gilgit-Baltistan?)
Would Mr Khan care to explain how it was appropriate for Pakistan to cede a portion of Kashmir away to China? Under whose authority? Wasn't that a contravention of the UN resolutions on Kashmir, something Pakistan harps on whenever it is convenient? Isn't all of Kashmir, and not just the Indian part of it, "disputed"?
Pakistan illegally occupied a large part of Kashmir, renamed it 'Free Kashmir', and yet controls it militarily. It changed the demographics of the region decades ago by flooding the area with Punjabi Sunni muslims from the mainland, reducing the native Shia population to a minority. The world did not notice, and the NYT was definitely not perturbed. Now India changes her constitution, and the world is apparently distressed, and the NYT feels it necessary to write noisome editorials denouncing all of India as a Hindu-fascist state. This is beyond ridiculous, but we know NYT represents a far-left, pro-Islamist, anti-Hindu world view.
10
If Pakistan is so much want Kashmir freedom then why Pakistan's media keep saying 'Kashmir banega Pakistan" means Kashmir will become (part of) Pakistan. The country itself is close to bankruptcy, political instability, poor governance, corruption at all level. Pak media and government is spreading false propaganda and misleading its own people. Look at Karachi... you can not maintain one city and Do you want to make Kashmir another Karachi.
No it will not happen. Kashmir is doing better with India.
One humble request, stop false propaganda. You are notonly lying to others but to your own people as well. In India all religions are respected and we are living peacefully. Indian people understand your false propaganda.
First clean Karachi, get out of economic trouble, improve living condition to your people, stop terrorism and live in peace and also let Kashmir and Afghanistan people live in peace.
God bless!
6
we still remember OSAMA BIN LADEN, Pakistan gave safe passage to him. Pakistan is a terrorist breeding nation. Stop sending terrorist in kashmir. Period
3
What an amazing write by the leader of a powerful nuclear state. India should get out of the mindset of becoming a fake super power by threatening and torturing the innocent people of Kashmir, and instead should focus on building toilets and providing food for it's poor population of millions.
One thing I have figured out about Pakistani people, they are sincere as long as you don't stab them in the back. They are emotional people with good hearts, so Modi stop your your hypocritical agenda and moves before it's too late and you lose your India.
1
RSS is a racist organization. Leaders and common members openly admire Hitler and signs of Swastikas are proudly displayed in their gathering. Prime Minister Modi and several cabinet Ministers are proud current and ex-members of this evil organization the stated goal of which is to make India a pure Hindu state that will have no place for Muslims, Christians and Dalits.
World can't afford to be indifferent on a full display of yet another example of nativist, racist fringe becoming a mainstream.
When Imran Khan talks about self determination for Kashmir include Pakistan occupied Kashmir? Will he also allow the Baluchis to vote on self determination? Pakistan has always been hypocritical about these issues.
While most Indians like me abhor the moves made by the Modi government in Kashmir, having the Pakistani prime minister crying crocodile tears and trying to portray Modi as a Nazi sympathizer will only result in most Indians getting behind him on the issue of Kashmir. The best thing Imran Khan and Pakistan can do is to stay out of the way and stop supporting terrorism in India and Afghanistan.
2
There will not be a World War anything over Kashmir.
For a world war you have to have countries stand behind you. The only one that stands with you Mr. Khan is China, the second repressive state after Pakistan.
I suggest you stop obsessing over peaceful matters of India, and focus on Pakistan. Just today an article came out that says that a young Sikh girl was kidnapped, and forcibly converted to Islam to marry a Muslim.
Are you or your army planning a next terrorist attack in India as you write this?
World sees Pakistan’s hypocrisy.
3
Very well self-explanatory summary. world leaders must react, respond, and take action to ensure peace in the South Asia.
#IstandwithKashmir
#UNSecurityCouncil
#SaveKashmirFromModi
#StopKillingsInKashmir
1
Beautifully written, logical and terrifying.
Seems the PM of Pakistan should run the world.
We have the wrong administration to solve this.
Mr. Trump is our Mussolini. He will admire India’s Mussolini...
Who puts Mein Kampf on his bedside table? Guess.
The world is rolling down a dreadful path. And we have no mechanism to stop it.
The United States, Russia, China, Japan, India, Pakistan, England, France, Germany, Israel, North Korea, Canada, Brazil ... what do all have in common?
Guess?
Germany and Japan are not nuclear. Canada is not nuclear. Is Brazil?
The rest are nuclear.
And Iran and Saudi Arabia?
Peace Nobel Ralph Bunche, where are you?
1
Mr. Imran Khan hits all the right tear jerking notes blatantly ignoring the facts - that it is Pakistan that first invaded the Kingdom of Kashmir raping and pillaging its way in (documented by UN), refused to honor the UN mandate to remove its troops first, ethnically cleansed the Indian valley in 1990 of its original native Hindus (the Pandits), invaded India at Kargil and most recently pushed suicide Jihadists iinto Mumbai, killing innocent Indians, Jews and American citizens!
Pakistan a country that declares Islam first and ruthlessly suppresses its Hindus and Christians, has indeed succeeded already - in destroying peaceful sufi Islam in Kashmir. Pakistan's arab inspired Jihadis will not stop until other faiths are trampled . If secular India that is fighting for equality loses this fight, the world will be an unsafe place for those that believe in equality and democracy. That's a point the PM Imran Khan will not address in his OpEds. How convenient!! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice ...
10
It irks me to see the NY Times, time and again spotlight Hindu phobic views. Without publishing the other view point you are demonstrating bias and losing credibility by the minute.
You are publishing the views of a country which has harbored and promoted terrorism - including the biggest terrorist of all - Osama bin Laden. The prime minister of a country which has committed genocide ( https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/genocide-us-cant-remember-bangladesh-cant-forget-180961490/ ) and promoted genocide in Kashmir ( https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/exodus-of-kashmiri-pandits-january-19-jammu-and-kashmir-304487-2016-01-19 ) has no right to point fingers - and yet you give him the spotlight.
All the terrorism problems in Kashmir are Pakistan and ISI sponsored. The UN Security Council in its August meeting had no choice but to ignore Pakistan's wailing because the complaints hold no water.
It is about time NYT look itself in the mirror, and stop supporting terrorism and Hindu phobia in the name of liberalism.
9
This " well meaning " article is the moderate face of pan-Islamic jihad sweeping the globe. Twin towers in New York, bus bombings in U.K., train bombings in Spain, slaughter of non-Muslims by ISIS in the middle east, forcible conversions of non-Muslims in Pakistan. And now, the threat of unleashing nukes by Pakistan !!!! Readers , can you connect the dots ? How long will this lethal mixture of extremist slaughter backed by moderate rationality ( as exhibited by Imran Khan ) be the narrative of the day ? Can we forget the thousands who died on Sep 11 ? Can we forget the Boston bombings ? Can we forget the hundreds of innocent children who got butchered in Beslan ? Kashmir, unfortunately is an extension of this Islamist imperialism. The Islamist narrative is Modi is Islamophobic. Well, under Modi, India has developed the strongest possible bond with peaceful Muslim states like Saudi Arabia and UAE. In fact, Modi was the recipient of the highest civilian award of UAE - the order of Zayed. Modi has inducted the largest number of Muslims in India's elite civil services.
The world has to call out this bluff. Imran Khan has to stop acting like Kim Jong Un.Keep your nukes with you. India has a " NO FIRST USE " clause. However, if you do press the trigger ever, you know what will happen. Politics is neither a sports field, nor a slaughter house.
3
with president Trump at the helm
no useful role can be expected to
prevent catastrophe in South Asia.
He held meeting with Indian PM
Modi who told him Kashmir is under
control. Mr. no nothing accepted the
statement at face value. He made no
effort to urge upon Modi to ease
the imprisonment of Kashmiris, release
arrested people and restore communication and movement of
people to conduct their normal life.
How is Kashmir part of India when
8 million people are locked up. We made noises about China imprisoning 1 million Uighurs in Xinjiang, but keeping
quiet about the imprisonment of 8 million Kashmiris. World kept quiet
when Nazis started violence against
Jews and had to pay very high price later.It seems we have learnt nothing
and prepared to pay the high price again.
I think time for superpowers to act with consolidating and massive political pressure on Indian to back from its unilateral action and this is against international law. And p should have played more important roles including political pressure,it is very dangerous situation not mentioned that two countries has nuclear arsenals.
2
Let the people of Kashmir decide the fate of Kashmir. In order for this to happen, India must agree to a plebiscite. Concurrently, Pakistan must vacate the area referred to as, “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir”. Subsequently, India and Pakistan must then jointly agree to hold a free and fair vote in Kashmir. As a relatively democratic, open and transparent society, India ought to be confident about the outcome of such as vote.
7
Mr. Khan says: "We have already prepared multiple options that can be worked on while honoring the right to self-determination the Kashmiris were promised by the Security Council resolutions ". The first action, not an option , specified by the Security Council resolutions in 1948 said that Pakistan's army must go back to its original boundary of undivided Kashmir that it illegally crossed before any plebiscite can take place. Those who do not believe this palese Google the UN Resolution on the subject. Pakistan very conveniently and deliberately ignores the First requirement and Part I of the Resolution and always demande that India follow-up on the Part II that must be preceded by Pakistan's army vacating its occupied part of Kashmir that legally acceded to India after Pakistan's attack.
Shame on NYT for putting in provocative picture on the article that just shows a women fainting after an alleged arrest. Would it publish pictures where Pakistan Army recently and regularly mutilated bodies of its citizens from Baluchistan and Indian citizens?
28
Even though Imran Khan maybe well meaning his position is completely dependent on the military. They supported his re-election by arresting and harnessing members of the opposition parties. Imran can say whatever he wants , letters have no meaning unless he can follow through. Note the Kashmir insurgency has been instigated and propagated by the Pakistani military for decades, which resulted in the expulsion of 350,000 Hindu Pandits from Kashmir in the 1990s. As part of his plan to Modi is he going to invite them back to Kashmir ?
7
Also Pakistan’s existence is based on the concept that Muslims cannot live with Hindus and other religions (2 nation theory); 2nd largest Muslim population living in India has disproved that theory. If Kashmir peacefully integrates with India that further disproves the theory.
Pakistani establishment is discovering that religion alone cannot be a thread which can bind the country; Bangladesh proved that and now further protests in Pakistan against the atrocities of Punjabi Sunnis (most dominant group in the country) by almost everyone else (Baloch, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Shias, Ahmadis) are further proving that two nation theory and thus the basis of Pakistan’s creation has no standing.
Pakistan establishment is well aware of that and it needs the Kashmir/India bogey to keep the nation together. That explains why all the hue and cry and threats of nuclear war.
19
Let’s look at some statistics.
The partition between India and Pakistan took place over 70 years ago. Before partition, Indian Kashmir and Pakistani Kashmir were one state. During these 70 years, if
(I) literacy rate in Indian Kashmir has increased faster than in Pakistani Kashmir;
(II) life expectancy in Indian Kashmir has increased more than in Pakistani Kashmir;
(III) per capita income in Indian Kashmir has increased faster than in Pakistani Kashmir;
Then it is hypocritical for Pakistan to express concern about Indian Kashmir. Pakistan has failed to take care of Kashmiris already in its territory.
25
There are only three viable scenarios I perceive about Indian and Pakistani dilemma on Kashmir:
One, Pakistan incorporates the areas it controls, calls it an even deal, and makes peace with India and tries to live in a peaceful environment. Two, the status quo that now exists (I don't think India can back away now) continues for the foreseeable future. Three, a nuclear war breaks out with an unpredictable outcome (I say this, because none of the world powers are in any mood to cajole or placate these two perpetually antagonistic states, and the world is fed-up with this Kashmir problem). I say, let's have at it!
Yes, Pakistan is in danger because it is entangled in politics of terror, unlike India which has initiated politics of development, as Late President Kalam wanted, from both Left and Right polity.
There is another factor: healing partition divides. To figure the root cause here we need to analyse why Eastern India was peaceful in 1947, even while it was given up by British officers as not feasible to restore order. Gandhiji succeeded in East and West witnessed manslaughter.
Secular law and reconciliation between two communities perhaps has its roots in Khilafat movement. Khilafat was supported by a wide array of leaders, including Gandhi and Puri Shankaracharya. Maulana Azad later went on to become a Cabinet Minster in the first cabinet. This basic syncretic cultural trust, that had evolved over centuries of Islamic presence was drawn to fight from freedom.
Pakistan on the other hand opted for Ataturk and route to modernization via proximity to developed West. Whereas India has built up the political and cultural trust between all communities to fortify secular Indian state.
This surely was an imperfect journey, weak administration could not cope with riots, but right lessons were culled and fabric of Indian society strengthened by politics, arts and newer intellectual sensibilities.
Pakistan has to get real, comprehend India and partner to progress together.
4
Pakistan does not care about Kashmir, all they care about is avenging the creation of Bangladesh- which revolted against the atrocities / genocide carried by Pakistani army.
That is why they conveniently flip between Kashmir will become part of Pakistan and independent Kashmir; cause they don’t care about Kashmir but dividing India. That is the what they have brainwashed their citizens to believe that eventually they will do Gazwa-I-Hind, break Indians into several pieces and establish Islam as the sole religion in the subcontinent- killing or forcibly converting the Kafirs.
Also over a period of time Kashmir has become the justification for maintaining the Pakistani military establishment.
Strong India and Modi’s moves has proven that the dream which was sold to Citizens of Pakistan for past 70 years was nothing more than a pipe dream.
That explains the consternation in Pakistani establishment.
13
The world powers should intervene to help the innocent Kashmiri community of Indian occupied Kashmir. How one claimant can lock such a large community in their houses against their will . No phone , no media, no internet and soldiers are standing on every door with guns to suppress the legitimate voice of Kashmiri people. The world should stand up now and take notice of this brutality and human rights violations. This urgent issue need an immediate attention of the UNO and world powers to avoid dangerous conflict in that region. The people of Kashmir should be given an opportunity to decide their own fate. I admire the steps taken by Mr. Imran Khan so far for peaceful resolution of the issue and avoid conflict.
3
It’s sheer insanity that two nations that have impoverished population running in millions, have time, resources & energy to waste on developing hostilities instead of forging reconciliation over a territorial disputes that is insignificant if one considers the overall size of both estrange dneighbours. There are only ten million people living in IOK and because of them over 1bn population is suffering. Why can’t the two countries simply sit across the table and agree to make Azad Kashmir on Pakistan side & IOK as a neutral self governing state with no army or diplomatic missions governed by a board of governors comprising of both countries and Kashmiris on both sides. Both Pakistan and India should withdraw their army and let the region flourish as a tourist destination, friendly not only to Pakistan & India but also to the rest of the world. I think it’s time to bury the hatchet, manage egos and have the courage to move on towards a much overdue settlement on Kashmir!
2
All Indians should check the UN Security Council Resolutions number 38,39,47,51,80, and 96. These resolutions were signed both by India and Pakistan. These resolutions calls for a referendum so that People of Kashmir can decide if they want to go with Pakistan or India. Why is India denying this right to Kashmiri people when it calls itself the world's biggest democracy.
8
@Asfand Siddiqui
The UN Resolution also requires Pakistan to remove all its troops and all non-Kashmiris that it settled in J &K. Only then can a plebiscite be held.
@Asfand Siddiqui, Pakistan must first abide by UN Resolution 47 by withdrawing all its troops and the Pathans it settled in Gilgit, Baltistan and Azad kashmir. then the million of so Hindus that were driven out of Jammu and Kashmir must be resettled in J&K. Only then can a referendum be held.
This article read well and looks well-intended, but slightly naive at times. First, whether the move is unconstitutional or not will be decided by the judiciary, and it is premature to label it as one at this point. Secondly, the very same article that Mr. Khan shares while talking about the Pulwana attack mentions the role of "Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad" in the strikes; but it was probably convenient to leave that part out. The Pakistani foreign minister recently said on live international television that the alleged chief of the said terror organization, marked as a global terrorist by a large group of nations, is in Pakistan, but is free because of "lack of sufficient evidence". It is also naive to talk about Kashmiris and their clashes with the Indian government after systematically arming the people and perpetrating cross-border terrorism for decades. This is also why "dialogues" have stopped meaning much, where much has been said and little has been done. Third, it is extremely sanctimonious for Islamabad to comment about India's probable reconsideration of it's "no first-use policy", when it has never espoused such a policy itself.
Having said all that, the core of the article focusses (or at least tried to) on the issues that the Kashmiris face now after abrogation of Article 370. Even as an Indian, while I agree with the move in principle, it's manner of implementation and consequences are worth investigating. I hope that peace prevails in the region soon.
5
Just a simple one-word solution:
Plebiscite
Let the Kashmiris decide what they want. No changing demographics, which is what led to this confrontation between the two countries, (created by the British) in the first place.
The Hindu Ruler of the Muslim-majority Kashmir at Partition defected instead of letting the voice of the people be heard. And that conflict has raged on for 7 decades ever since.
Whether it’s the Kashmiris in Azad (free) Kashmir controlled by Pakistan or those that reside in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (where this tragedy has been unfolding), they are the most important of stakeholders in this conflict.
Let them choose: either independence from both countries or join the Kashmiris of Azad Kashmir.
7
@Peacelover
Plebiscite is no longer viable because the Kashmir for which plebiscite was intended ceased to exist long time ago. The notion that countries should redraw their borders to accommodate concentrations of religiously similar people is nonsense. It’s time move on, whether Pakistan likes it or not.
7
@Peacelover
The ruler of J &K acceded to India just as the rulers of over 500 other princely states. Balochsitan joined Pakistan after the four kings/rulers withing Balochistan signed a paper that they were joining Pakistan. J&K differed because Jawaharlal Nehru foolishly took the case to the UN. But Pakistan has not abided by the UN resolutions.
Also the UN Resolutions are not binding as they came under Chapter 6 of the UN Charter.
5
If Mr. Imran Khan really wants "lasting and just peace in South Asia" he should be asking Kashmiri Muslims to live in peace in India as the rest of the 200 million Muslims do. In stead he is using religion to divide South Asia as Pakistan's founder Mr. Jinnah did more than 70 years ago, so he could steal land from India. He is also using the threat of war and nuclear blackmail for the purpose. It is unfortunate for a man claiming to be seeking peace. The chances of India giving up Kashmir is zero, so is the chances of Pakistan getting Kashmir.
Mr. Khan and Pakistan need to spend time and effort in improving its almost bankrupt economy, and stop interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbors, India and Afghanistan, and promote religious harmony in South Asia. Only that will bring peace the peace that he so badly wants.
19
Yeah. I recommend doing more research on Imran Khan before making this grossly incorrect claim. He is not saying Pakistan wants Kashmir.... he is saying we need to make peace on the matter. He has advocated for Kashmiri independence... something Kashmiri’s in Indian occupied Kashmir want...
There is a fundamental dishonesty in terms of how all the countries concerned have approached Kashmir. The reality is that Kashmir is in a very strategic location and serves vital interests to any country that has control over it. India will not relinquish its sovereignty over Kashmir under any circumstances. Kashmir is vital to its defence. From New Delhi's perspective, it's a case of 12 million Kashmiris weighed against the security of a country of 1.25 billion people. India has learned all too painfully throughout the course of its long history that it is vulnerable to invasions from the north and the west and it is determined to learn the lessons of history. Pakistan also covets Kashmir as holding it provides it with a tremendous amount of leverage vis a vis India as well as virtual full control over the Indus waters. China also desires Kashmir as it strengthens its position vis a vis both countries in the subcontinent giving it added leverage as well. A country's geopolitical interests are permanent - they are not impacted by whoever happens to be in power. Modi has served Indian geopolitical interests with his latest manoeuvre. Imran Khan is also serving his country's interests by publishing this op-ed. In my humble opinion, the correct solution under the circumstances is to make the existing borders permanent and to give Kashmiris a choice as to which country they would like to live in. Everyone can move to wherever they want to go and the problem is solved.
16
Kashmir is the disputed territory since the partition between Pakistan and India. As Kashmir was densely Muslim majority and this part of land must be given to Pakistan at the time of partition according to the two nation theory but India captured the land at the time of partition which later Pakistan re-captured almost 38% of Kashmir so Kashmir is unfinished business of partition. There are two UN resolutions passed directing India to conduct plebiscite according to admiration of people but India on the other hand has imposed curfew which right now has entered into 26 days and people has been suffering from Indian brutalities. The world must wake up and intervene especially UN who is still silent over atrocities perpetuated by Indian forces. This must come to an end as war is looming over.
7
@Ikram Khan
India did not capture Kashmir,The Pakistani's first sent in the Tribals.The Maharaja had a standstill agreement with both countries which Pakistan violated.It was only because of this reason that Maharaja acceded to India.Had the kabali's not engagaed in rape and arson,they would probably have reached Srinagar.It was only because Pakistan was impatient and wanted to wrest Kashmir with brute force that we are in such a situation.The UN resolution asks Pakistan to first vacate the areas occupied by it and then a plebiscite was to be held.Why did Pakistan not take back it's forces??Have you even read the resolution ??For Christ sake ,go and read the resolution first.
1
How about allowing the Kashmiris to determine their own fate?
69
@MC
How do you do that? Pakistan has occupied a third of Kashmir in 1948, and settled many Pakistani citizens there, altering the demography of the area completely. India maintained the status quo until now through Article 370 (Kashimiris have rights in rest of India but Indians did not have in Kashmir), and scrapped it now as there is no other way. Pakistan can hardly complain as they integrated the area starting from 1948 itself.
22
@MC Ironically, given this opinion piece, self-determination could have been an option for the whole territory had Pakistan not invaded, then split off Gilgit-Baltistan, gifted part of PoK to China, and irrevocably altered the demographics of PoK decades ago.
India has always abided by the Line of Control.
Pakistan has sent armed militants for decades , who, along with indigenous militants, not only ethnically cleansed the Valley of religious minorities but also drove out/ killed many moderates. Current residents have consistently opposed any plan to resettle those who were forced to flee from the Valley. Until, those people can return and participate fully in elections, self-determination is not possible.
16
@Ravina
The happenings of that time were not as clear cut as your media makes it to be. The condition the British left the two countries in limited the scope for cross-border communication, and the Partition was disorganized. In the midst of this, conflict in the state of Kashmir was inevitable and Hari Singh's decision was prompted by India. The Pakistan Army only intervened after regional tribal groups had already attempted to forestall a total, unilateral Kashmiri accession to India. During this time and even now, no argument could me made to justify the state's accession to either nation, except by the will of the people. (Which Hari Singh did not exemplify).
The state of Kashmiris is and has always been better in PoK that in IoK. Years of suppression of Kashmiris by India has made them less receptive of any positive overtures and more likely to turn to extreme methods, which only aggravate the situation. Diluting their indigenous movement with constant claims and lockdowns over terrorism prevents their voice from reaching the world. And saying that self determination is not possible is simply the pure opposite of any righteous democratic ideals enshrined in your Constitution.
13
'If the world does nothing to stop the Indian assault on Kashmir and its people, two nuclear-armed states will get ever closer to a direct military confrontation.'
Another equally important plea is only a slight variation of the above:
'If the world does nothing to stop the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the Indian people in Kashmir, the two nuclear-armed states will get ever closer to a direct military confrontation.'
19
Perhaps the blatant annexation would not have looked so ghastly if Modi had first paved a way for a peaceful transition without bullets and bayonets. Was it possible? Yes. If the agenda of both the countries was peace and prosperity of their people. Alas, the agenda is to teach other a lesson. Provoke hatred and bigotry against each other. Ironically while from Pakistani side it I has been prompted by army, ( both Nawaz Shareef and Imran on the side of friendship with India); in India it is the current civil government that has decided to play the hatred card.
5
Imran Khan is certainly leaving out key events and developments in this narrative for which Pakistan was uniquely responsible. India is sick and tired of Pakistan's low grade warfare-by-terrorism, which amounts to policy, and has deliberately created mayhem for nearly four decades- and now this PR war through which this weak PM is trying to retain his post. Game over, Sir. The long awaited Constitutional amendment, attempted repeatedly and moved for as far back as in 1964 is basically none of Pakistan’s business.
19
Just because Kashmir has a Muslim majority doesn't mean it belongs to Pakistan - this is illogical. Kashmir is not anyone's business but India's. The impertinence of those interfering in India's matters is not worthy of attention.
Mr Khan should instead ponder how badly Pakistan has fallen as it has become more extremist in religion.
Pakistan has been using the threat of nuclear war for a long time to get its way with the rest of the world.
The real question Mr Khan diverts from is the illegal occupation of parts of Kashmir by Pakistan.
The next war would be fought for Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
18
Hard to choose a side to root for here because they both deserve to lose. But if we have to choose, let's side with the Indians because duplicitous Pakistan welcomed Osama bin Laden to hide within its borders for years. The US should never, ever forgive them for that.
16
Just as the US has realized, over the last 15 years, that Pakistan never ceases to double-cross and deceive in what their real aim is, India has been experiencing their acts since the last 40 years.
It is incredibly pretentious and pompous of Imran Khan to talk about lasting peace in South Asia when their government and military have been doing the exact opposite since decades. They sponsor, train, shelter and support violent militants that have wrecked havoc on Afghanistan as well as Kashimiri locals in India.
2008 Mumbai attacks which killed more than 150 innocent women, children some citizens from US and Israel were perpetrated by the militant group that safely resides and organize public rallies in Pakistan.
While the heavy handedness of India in this recent issue definitely needs scrutiny, their action seemed to be forced by a history of violent incitement and unending bloodshed caused by the militant groups present there.
13
Hmm let’s see. Why does not Imran Khan and the Pakistani commenters who so virtuously want what’s best for Kashmiris, openly discuss the dismal state of the Northern Territory (Gilgit-Baltistan) and the freedom in governance of Azad (Free) Kashmir occupied by Pakistan. Why not discuss the area illegally ceded by Pakistan to China. Pakistan wants India to play by standards that it is not willing to rise to. You want ethics, honesty, fair play? Then let’s begin by seeing these changes unfold in Pakistan on a world stage. Maybe renounce your nuclear arsenal first? Then you would be righteous and the world would not only applaud you but believe in your sincerity. If all this is unpalatable, then please let India resolve this. I do hope the Kashmiris do not give in to empty hate, instead of inviting a prosperous future for their children. Being isolated is not an economically viable solution, but be careful whose embrace you choose to fall into.
11
Pakistan and India should resolve Kashmir Issue by Dialogue, Instead of spending money on weapons of mass destruction; they should spend money on betterment of their people. India is controlling IOK by armed force. Both Countries most population is under poverty line. The people of IOK are suffering since 1947 after by force merger with India by their ruler.
2
‘force merger!’
Go read security council resolution of 1948!
Kashmiris should have a right to say what they want. World needs to wake up now to the suppression and atrocities carried out by India
2
History makes it difficult for India (especially Hindus) to trust Pakistan. A 1000 years ago, the Muslims came to India, not peacefully, but as marauders. Indian history is replete with mass killings, pillaging, and plundering of Hindus by the Muslims. Ancestral Hindu India was divided in 1947 to create Pakistan as per the Muslims' wish. In 1948, Pakistan forcibly occupied a part of Kashmir, an autonomous state then whose ruler subsequently opted to join India. Ever since, Pakistan has used Kashmir as a breeding ground to stage terror strikes on India.
I am not arguing that there should never be a peaceful solution to the problem. Given Pakistan’s history and past behavior, it is going to take more than just a gesture by Pakistan’s new prime minister. Pakistan’s leaders and the Muslim jihadist groups must try a little harder and convince India that they are serious about peace.
19
A simple solution, let the people of Kashmir vote for autonomy or to join Pakistan. Leave it in their hands. Clearly the decision to join India wasn’t made by them, but my the ruler of Kashmir, who didn’t even have public support but controlled the region’s citizens through force. These poor people have suffered tremendously over the years, and the move by India to assimilate them is nothing more than an attempt to solidify their grip on the region. If the growth of Kashmir’s citizens was of such paramount importance to the Modi administration, then clearly there are regions in India in far worse conditions than Kashmir that are in need of more help, but they haven’t been extended this “generous” attention and care. So clearly, this isn’t true, and everyone knows this.
India clearly has a serious Hindu supremecist issue going on which is only going to get worst over time, especially while this administration continues to turn a blind eye to it. Add to that the increased political presence of these racist elements in position of power in India, and Kashmir is only the tip of the iceberg. Pretty soon you will see all minorities being subjugated, something which has already started happening and is gaining momentum by the day. Mob lynchings, cries of “reclaiming Kashmir”, changing names of cities to more Hindu aligned names, these are all symptoms of a growing nationalistic supremecist movement. If it isn’t checked here, it is only going to get worse.
4
@J B Frank
Kashmir is Muslim majority state but has been ruled by Hindu kings without any problems, just as majority Hindu country was ruled by Mughals for centuries
Here is the text of the UN resolution ( 1948) calling for plebiscite in Kashmir.
"The United Nations Security Council Resolution 47, adopted on 21 April 1948, concerns the resolution of the Kashmir conflict. After hearing arguments from both India and Pakistan, the Council increased the size of the Commission established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 39 to five members (with representatives of Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Czechoslovakia and the United States[1]), instructed the Commission to go to the subcontinent and help the governments of India and Pakistan restore peace and order to the region and prepare for a plebiscite to decide the fate of Kashmir.
Secondly, the Resolution recommended a three-step process for the resolution of the dispute. In the first step, Pakistan was asked to withdraw all its nationals that entered Kashmir for the sake of fighting. In the second step, India was asked to progressively reduce its forces to the minimum level required for law and order. In the third step, India was asked to appoint a plebiscite administrator nominated by the United Nations who would conduct a free and impartial plebiscite.
Let Pakistan take the first step of the UN resolution and then ask India for plebiscite. You cant use the part of UN resolution that you like and ignore the rest
Imran Khan was an extremely popular cricket player. His words as a politician are hollow. How can he paper over decades of terrorist support In Kashmir? Under the circumstances when there was ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Hindus-- over 200,000 fled -- the Government of India had a right to demand why can't the rights of the Kashmiris be parallel to Indians who could settle anywhere, practice their craft anywhere in India? Article 370 was, unfortunately, a convenient cover for increased terrorist activities. For Imran Khan to not even acknowledge that is ann egregious and cruel lie. Now he is shedding crocodile tears because the outcome of this action by India has some hope of leveling the field for equal rights to all. And for IK to raise the bogey of a nuclear conflict... what is so new about this guy??
9
Yes, Mr.Imran, world cannot ignore the atrocities carried out by a failed state like Pakistan. World should stop funding or trading with countries like Pakistan. Pakistan doesn't have money to feed itself, but it has money to wage a war and aid militants across the world by providing training ground / finance operations by promoting drug trafficking. Pakistan should relinquish Pakistan occupied Kashmir and let the people there decide what they should do with their land, rather than using the land to provide China access to it's strategic ports within Pakistan in exchange for money. Pakistan's nuclear non-proliferation credentials are pathetic, So a grave threat looms over the world.
4
I'm as a patriot pakistani dont think that the war is solution of issue instead it creates the problems. We want peace in the region, we want to work on poverty & illiteracy in region togetherly. We want of resolve our every issue on table. We offered many time India to negotiate but they denied & displayed the aggressions. As on Kashmir issue before few month we asked them to do table talk but in respond they revoke article 370 & implement curfew on Kashmir. What is happening there no one know. As we are Muslim & Kashmiris who are 9 millions in numbers are muslims too, facing hardship & they are unarmed. Now its our duty to highlight this issue & do whatever is possible to give kashmiris calmness . We'd do & try to spread the voice of Kashmiris in every part of world . When world wouldnt respond as they are doing then we dont have another option.
sorry....
#GoIndiaGoBack
3
I have seen op-Ed’s in the past by Saudi & Iranian Foreign Ministers on the Syria Issue, have even seen an Op-Ed by Rouhani on the p5 plus one Nuclear deal. This one coming from Pakistan, from a current head of state is refreshing and certainly a step in the right direction, BUT words won’t alone undo the wrong what Modi has done.
Pakistan has to be more direct in words and policy. Khan’s mention of Golwalker may not be appropriate in linking Modi’s ideological roots. A mention of Savarkar and Godse would have been more damaging to Modi and a correct appraisal of facts.
For those of who, who don’t k ow savarkar, they might just want to read up on him. He was the first to have talked and envisaged about Hindutva, and has a book by that name as well. Godse on the other hand became the hand of Savarkar, as master and student meticulously planned and carried out the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. This is from where Modi comes. This is how he should be ideologically and propagandically attacked.
5
I would take this with a grain of salt coming from Imran Khan. Pakistan's current prime minister.
Kashmir situation on Indian side is a problem since the Modi leadership, but that's ignoring the massive build-up of radical factions within Pakistan that run around with impunity and sometimes with Pakistan's military ISI (intelligence) blessing and training, are used in the proxy war with its neighbors India and Afghanistan.
For the longest time former general and former prime minister of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf was emphatic that bin Laden was no where in Pakistan and was probably dead (so stop asking). Several years later a SEAL team killed bin Laden in Abbottabad a few miles away from an army base.
Also, India has a very conservative use of its nuclear strategy. Pakistan has nuclear weapons ready and assembled ready to be deployed at a moment's notice (which to me is normal and what you want a nuclear deterrent to be and this makes sense for Pakistan being a weaker country in terms of sheer military strength). India, on the other hand, has an unorthodox nuclear strategy of having their nuclear weapons disassembled by default i.e. the warhead and the missile are kept separate. In a crisis, this requires engineers and scientists to assemble it. India's strategy here seemed a bit odd, but sort of comes from the idea of having a less offensive and more defensive plan.
23
While Khan speaks of peace, the Pakistani Army trains and supports infiltrators to destabilize Kashmir. Modi's lockdown of the region was necessary to prevent loss of life. Muslims in Kashmir, incited by Pakistani terrorists, themselves incited by Saudi-funded madrassas and mosques, ethnically cleansed Kashmir in the 90s of the ancient Hindu community. Justice for Kashmir means at minimum the return of Kashmiri Hindus to their ancestral properties. Pakistan has never functioned as a democracy. It only wears that face to the world. It's rotten core is the scheming Pakistani army that alone has been responsible for starting wars with India and unceasingly agitating Kashmiris to violence. Modi aims to right the wrongs of Pakistan's terrorism and make Kashmir a place for all Indians, not just Muslims.
64
It is ironic that a Pakistani leader ventures to lecture on Indian democracy, electoral process and the India's Constitution. It is almost like Kim Jong-un lecturing to the US.
All religious minorities in Pakistan have been decimated since 1947 through officially sanctioned actions and laws. This also includes Muslims who do not subscribe to the majority Wahhabi Sunni sect.
For more than half of its life as a nation Pakistan has been ruled by military dictators. When there is a civilian administration it is at the mercy of the army for its survival.
In the part of Kashmir it controls, Pakistan has executed measures long ago that it accuses India of implementing now.
Pakistan practices blackmail by touting its nuclear weapons. It helped North Korea in its nuclear program.
Pakistan, for all its love for persecuted Muslims everywhere, hasn't said even one word about the conditions under which Uighurs live in China.
My point is not that India is a perfect place or Mr. Modi is a paragon of virtue. India is an extremely complex country with various languages, religions and sects, ancient traditions some of which are terrible, and rivalries between communities that can often flare up in violence. In spite of all that it has held together as a single nation and has achieved a measure of social and economic progress. Like all democracies it has its share of inefficiency and cacophony.
India does not need advice on its governance, least of all from Pakistan.
25
Constitutional amendments are strictly internal affair of India. The articles abrogated were temporary provisions that went on for 70 years. Finally with this abrogation, Kashmir will be better served by full integration with India. Economic growth will be the only solution that dispels terrorism and violence in the region.
10
Mr. Khan worries that Pakistan might find itself facing financial chaos and bankruptcy. That would match the moral bankruptcy and chaos which has always governed this country since 1947.
10
India and Pakistan cannot solve the Kashmir problem through bilateral talks. They need mediation or arbitration or intervention by the International Court of Justice.
3
Imran Khan is right to highlight the ideology of the Indian government. This ideology really is based on fascism. It's not unusual for many in India to say that "Muslims are invaders" or "Mughals are outsiders." This rhetoric is similar to the kind of language that Donald Trump uses. In Israel, just recently the government passed a Nationa State law that aims to marginlize its Arab minority. Trump, Bolsonaro, Orban, Modi, Netanyahu and others like them are the same! They must be confronted and called out.
4
Modi’s association with RSS, a fascist organization, cannot be ignored. It is the root of his support for the Hindu mobs that destroyed centuries old Babri Mosque. This act was a direct equivalent of the Taliban destroying centuries old Buddhist statues in Afghanistan. Hundreds of people died in ensuing riots. He has turned a blind eye towards further lynching of Muslims under the pretext of protecting cows. This man is a danger to not just India, but humanity.
7
At this time, this is not about land, historical agreements or religion. It is about depriving people of their basic rights and military backed to terrorism. For the firstborn time I am hearing Indian nationals showing significantly reduced patriotism to their nation. This is not a good sign for the country or the region. We m we to stop this animal.
2
I have followed Imran Khan ever since he entered politics and his focus mostly has been on making people's lives better and human rights. He wants to see whole South Asia free of terrorism and wants Pakistan to be modern Islamic state well respected around the world for it's morals not wealth or power. He has build the first cancer hospital after his personal experience when his mother died of cancer. He has proved he cares about environment and planted billions of trees. He also wants peace in Afghanistan. He is helping US with that peace process and we can see it's progressing.
To judge a person about his intentions one has to look at the track record of that person and not just the rhetoric alone. Imran Khan wants to see lasting peace in Kashmir without making it a ego issue giving Kashmirs the right of self-determination. If indians believe Kashmiris are very happy to be a part of India, then what's the fear of a plebiscite.
Sooner and later Indians will realize Modi and his gang has played a big politics and played Pakistan, Kashmir and Muslim card to get votes in the last election. Not sure how India with it's secular roots can survive being just a Hindu state which is the ideology of RSS/BJP. I hope both countries sit on a table and work it out for Kashmiris not for their respective countries. Imran Khan has invited Modi many times for a dialogue but he does not seem interested and keeps resorting to war and use of power. Just my two cents.
7
India has been smart keeping kashmir issue dormant for over 70 years. Thanks to Modi’s Extremism that kashmiris sufferings are now in lime light globally, and they are now more hopeful that the world conscience will help them get their right of self determination, a plebiscite, as was promised in UN resolution 1948.
It is curfew day 26 in Kashmir today. Modi punishing kashmiris for demanding freedom from India.
4
The theme common in all these comments — paraphrased — is that Kashmir is part of India and India will never give it up. This aptly highlights the sentiments of India's intransigence and a refusal for a dialogue.
Mr Modi, ex parte, has changed the status quo at an immense cost to the human lives of Kasmiris. This will not last: no injustice ever has.
Imran Khan was Mr Modi's best bet to resolve this issue amicably but he missed the opportunity.
4
I have to admit that as an Indian I admire Mr. Imran Khan and welcome his words. Whether he and Mr. Modi can work something out remains to be seen because both men are prisoners of their populace. Imran Khan would be wiser to accept that now, after a hiatus of 70 years, Kashmir has finally become an integral part of India. But it is not clear whether the Pakistani people will allow him that wisdom.
One constructive thing that could be done would be for Mr. Modi to extend the hand of friendship to Indian Muslims, i.e. those Indian Muslims who are not of Kashmiri descent.
It is the latter who can say to Kashmiri Muslims, "welcome brothers, join us as full citizens of India." But the Kashmiris would be right to ask, "and how exactly are YOU full citizens of India?"
Only Mr. Modi can answer that question. He needs to make conciliatory gestures towards Indian Muslims. And the New York Times, in all fairness, needs to report these gestures and congratulate Mr. Modi. For just as Mr. Modi needs to accept Indian Muslims, the white western liberals need to accept Mr. Modi.
Only in that way can we have peace and, eventually, friendship between India and Pakistan.
41
@Ludwig
I'm no fan of Modi. What he did was correct but the way he did is something that I cannot agree.
On the other hand, the diplomatic side of Pakistan (Imran Khan) is completely on the opposite to that of military side of Pakistan (ISI).
Unfortunately the diplomatic side has never been able to successfully control the military side and the military side had gone rogue a long time ago. They are the ones who are calling the shots in Kashmir. If Mr. Khan can focus on controlling the military side it would be a best use of his time than writing a column in NYT.
6
@Ludwig
The real test of your satirical rhetorical question to Indian Muslims will be to ask them if they want to move to Pakistan! If they all migrate to Pakistan then you will have a point. If Pakistan has the courage to invite all Indian Muslims to Pakistan and the Indian Muslims accept their invitation then there is a good chance that Peace will prevail and the Kashmiris will get their right to self-determination and I can guarantee you that India will gladly let Kashmiris exercise their right of self-determination. And at the same time, Pakistan must do the same in its Kashmir, Baluchistan, and Sindh.
1
@Seetha
You are perfectly welcome to not be a fan of Modi!
But, unfortunately, you seem to be unaware of the ground realities in Kashmir valley. Under India's Republican Democracy, the state Governor and the President of India are considered the representatives of their respective dominions in the absence of a functioning legislatures. Secondly, when Indian Parliament introduced and passed Article 370 and 35A the people of Kashmir and India were not consulted. That is the State Legislatures were not asked for their opinions when Article 370 curtailing the Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights granted to ALL Indians. Then why and what justification you have to fault Modi and the Parliament this time. The India Parliament voted in favor of the Bill, overwhelmingly. Indian Parliament is regarded as the Sovereign Body, duly elected, to pass any laws granting or restricting citizen's rights.
5
An excellent article exposing the right wing Hindus actively lynching people for even transporting or slaughtering cows with the open abetting of the police.
This is not about India - Pakistan .. RSS is the new AlQaeda of the region and a threat to global peace
Imran khan is a stable minded world leader caring for the minorities in Pakistan. So please don’t give me the Army controls Pakistan. Only as much it does in India.
India now is a threat to regional peace and the world as well.
8
New Delhi knew this was a hornets nest but stirred it up anyway.
The 'peace-loving' puritan hindus appear to be afraid of muslim neighbors.
4
@Grossman
There is much reason to be wary of, and fight, terrorism emanating form neighbor Pakistan which oppresses its minorities including Muslim Shias and Ahmediyas.
India is being ruled by hindu nationalist who do not consider other Hindus equal to themselves how can Muslims expect equality from same people. India is a country by the brahmans and for the Brahmans.
6
@Rizwan Ghumman
Modi is not a Brahmin,Infact most people that voted for him are not Brahmin's.You are mistaken.
India is quickly transforming from the world's largest democracy to the world's largest dictatorship. Oppression of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Bhuddist and the rise in fascist Hindu nationalist should alarm the whole world. Of course, the problem with hyper nationalism is that it doesn't actually help the economy, pull people from poverty, attack foreign investment, address climate change, tackle corruption, or the million and one other problems.
Let's invade Kashmir and the stupid state parroted news outlets will ignore India's woes and rally behind the dictator. India is in real danger and they are destabilizing the entire region.
5
Mr Khan, is beautifully playing the nuclear card to blackmail the international community.
Sure, India made mistakes in Kashmir, but the current situation, where tolerant and syncretic Sufi culture of J&K was destroyed by the milltants pushed across the border by the Pakistani Army in 1990s.
A whole population of Kashmiri Pandits became refugees in their own country after public announcements asked for their Exodus.
Mr Khan must acknowledge the role played by his country and his military in using Kashmiris for their own strategic interests.
Pakistan tried taking Kashmir by force in 1948, 1965 and 1999, and were unable to do so.
Kargil battle in 1999 happened when PM Bajpai went to Lahore for peace negotiations. So his claim about peace is doubtful.
276
@Ravindra This Nuclear card was first played by your defence Minister. In the present scenario no one can deny this.
India is not giving the people of Kashmir their basic, inborn right of self determination. All matters can be solved very easily if we people of Kashmir provided with the basic right of self determination.
26
@Syed Usama For people, who played the card first is decided by the narrative sold by the media in that country. Let me repeat what the Indian Defense Minister said: "(We) remain firmly committed to the doctrine of 'No First Use’. India has strictly adhered to this doctrine. What happens in future depends on the circumstances". The only thing he said was that we stick to our policy of no first use. The future state is based on future circumstances. So please remember, we form our opinions based on what we hear from our media and a nation's media is driven not only by Narrative but more importantly by Nationalism.
Also to note here is that Pakistan has no such policy, they may send out nuclear missiles towards India if it chooses to.
The same nation blames India for Hindutva is a declared Islamic Nation with no care for minorities. India however, has the laws to protect minorities.
The same nation blames India for atrocities in Kashmir and then sponsors terrorists to conduct bombing and killings in the Indian State.
You say India should give the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir. The actions of the Government of India are completely inline to bringing peace and prosperity in the Indian state. So they can choose to live their own lives as they seem fit. Also, did Pakistan give any such rights to the Land of Kashmir it annexed illegally?
48
@Dear Syed Usama,
Do I need to remind you to listen to speeches made by your Railway Minister everyday?
He openely threatens India and the world with nuclear weapons without any sense of responsibility. Our defence minister did not threaten Pakistan, but merely a policy statement in response to your leaders jingoism
As for the rights of Kashmiris, we in India are very aware about it, and currently the focus is on saving precious Kashmiri lives which we value, unlike your country which seeks bloodshed to utilize it for its own advantages.
18
I am glad that Mr Khan has put forth his views for the world to see. For the desperate spin he is now trying to portray is not going to withstand scrutiny. It is true that India is in no mood to talk to Pakistan. The reason is that India considers any such offer not sincere because Pakistan continues to incubate, arm and infiltrate terrorists across the border. FATF has already put Pakistan in "Grey list" for financing terrorism in Indian and Afghanistan borders. UN designated terrorists continue to operate on Pakistani soil. Pakistani military has fed Kashmir fantasy to its population and now is unable to face its local populations which has resulted in current meltdown. Kashmir restrictions are temporary for maintaining law n order. While we need to fight for complete restoration of civil liberties in Kashmir, this blatant fear mongering and alarmist rhetoric needs to be called out.
187
@Anil Nadella Mr Khan came live on a tv and asks for prove that pakistan doing terrersom on India but India has no proove
1
@siddique
I suppose the Mumbai attackers came from the US.
@Anil Nadella well we have taken serious steps against terrorism. We have arrested Kalbushan... Isn't it?
Many folks discussing here seem to be unaware of the history. Here are some relevant facts (Part I):
-- When British left in 1947, Kashmir chose to be an independent princely state. India respected that choice. Pakistan did not, and invaded Kashmir. That is when Kashmir signed instrument of accession to merge with India, which makes the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir part of India. By this time, Pakistan already encroached on a third of Kashmir, and still keeps that territory.
-- The UN resolution of 1948 calls for a) Pakistan vacating its occupied region, and then b) a plebiscite being held to ascertain the will of Kashmiris. Pakistan will never vacate, and also a fair plebiscite can no longer be held because Pakistan populated this area with its own citizens, unlike India which preserved the status until recently.
-- Pakistan invading independent princely state of Kashmir is the reason we are in this mess. It is disingenuous of Pakistani leaders to say they care about right of self-determination of Kashmiris. If they really did, Kashmir would have still been independent.
-- Pakistan also ceded part of its occupied territory to China, particularly Aksai Chin. Thus China occupies part of Kashmir. Pakistan will never mention and talk about rights of people there.
10
A precise and insightful portrayal of the history, recent chain of events and future of disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir between the 2 Nuclear Nations. There is an Ethnic Cleansing going on, on a massive scale in the Indian Occupied Kashmir at the moment. Genocide Watch has already issued a ‘Genocide Alert’ for it. United Nations must do something right now to stop it or there will be disastrous consequences not only for the South Asian region but also for the whole world.
7
Right message, wrong messenger that will only help Modi's credibility.
I wish this criticism came from someone credible rather than Imran Khan. While some of his criticisms are true, most are outdated, esp. the "hitler/nazi" canard. Pakistan's founder Md. Jinnah praised Hitler for ridding the world of the jews in 1945. I don't see any RSS leader doing that.
At best, the RSS is majoritarian and a mirror image of the muslim league which resulted in an islamist pakistan in 1947 that notoriously discriminates against shias, ahmedis and non-muslim minorities in pakistan.
Yes, my country is in the grip of extremism, but to not see it in context of the dangerous subcontinent, and pakistan's sponsorship of islamist, cross-border terrorism will only serve to push Indians into the arms of Modi.
While I don't proscribe appeasement, as Mr. Khan describes, an appeasement which led to a terror attack each time Mr. Modi visited Pakistan in the last 5 years, I do suggest a diplomatic solution ala the musharaff-manmohan formula with semi-autonomy for kashmir valley.
But that is not what the pakistan military wants, it wants India's capitulation without a fight. So, a fight we will have indeed, and it is possible India loses in a semi-conventional war coz the kashmir valley is indeed hostile to India now, but India will not give up its rightful position imo without a fight.
My suggestion to Mr. Khan, bring it on.
4
Voice of Kashmiris cannot be suppressed anymore.
Despite having stationed over a million Indian military troops in Indian Occupied Kashmir, Modi could not suppress Kashmiris.
Freedom for Kashmir is round the corner.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49481180#
3
How about the nytimes print a rebuttal from the Indian side?
12
Cry Wolf!
2
And now, will NYT give the same space and voice to an op-Ed by mr. modi?
15
Kashmir, 2019 = Sudetenland, 1938
1
Where the world sees it's interests first, there are no human rights no laws for powerful countries, India, Israel which are violating all human rights in all ways but UN has never pushes for any resolution against them, real terrorists enjoy full impunity but the innocents suffer. India which always violates all UN resolutions and human rights on Kashmir and it's treatment of minorities inside India is seen as a big market for west so they remain silent. Curfews for more than 26days now. IF People killed in Kashmir were Christians would the world remain silent , never Bcoz Muslims are killed so everything is OK for the champions of human rights.
2
The argument that Kashmir needed to be annexed for “development” is rubbished by the fact that Kashmir surpasses the majority of Indian states on measures like per capita income, literacy, etc. Poverty rates in Kashmir are much lower than in India. Kashmir doesn’t need to be annexed to follow India’s development model. If anything, India should be following the Kashmir model instead.
3
Pakistan has used Kashmir as an excuse to make war with India in the past. There is much money involved on all sides, and in particular, Pakistan pays proxies to intimidate Kashmiris. And proxies that drove out Hindus from their homes. Pakistan is bent on extending its policy of intolerance towards its minorities including Shias and Ahmediyas. Not good. India is simply trying to find out if Lincoln's proposition (paraphrased here) of whether a "nation conceived in the proposition that all men are crated equal can long endure..."; only the reference here is to men and women of ALL religions. It is an irony that this newspaper that stands for freedom has seen fit to give voice to one of our times' most repressive regimes that is bent on creating and maintaining conflict based only on religion. Pakistan, also founded on the principle of equality, is an example of an answer to Lincoln's question in the negative. India is trying to be the counterexample, one that imitates the US, without a civil war. That is good.
4
War is not the solution of every problem.If you use force there'll be reaction.Today,Trump realized that war in Afganistan can't be won,only dialogue can solve this quagmire.What happened in syria,IS surrendered its occupied belt to Russia-led Forces.History repeats itself, WW 2 broke out due to failure of league of Nations as Hilter's considered it a toothless league and used his forces against the innocent people.
2
Imran has a very pragmatic approach but he is man of steel nerves unshaken by opposition, he is the right man for the world to deal on issues of Kashmir and trade
I request my Indian critics to come out of their myopic thinking always cclaiming to be champions of democracy it is the 26 the day of communication black out, in Kashmir do the
democracies work like this when their own opposition is denied access to the people
5
PM Imran Khan is kind of leader that can help solve this Kashmir issue and relationship between India and Pakistan, Unfortunately India have Modi. Imran Khan and Pak Army is on one page to solve issues and make Pakistan peaceful and progressive. World leaders should understand the sensitivity of this matter and Pure efforts for peace by Pakistan.
5
I have grown up watching Mr. Khan playing cricket. I like Mr. Khan but it's very difficult to believe Pakistan's government, its army and their intentions. They have repeatedly broken promises in past and never left a chance to hurt India. That said, I do not approve Modi's action in Kashmir. He is doing a great disservice to India by creating a bubble of fake nationalism and pride. He is destroying the social fabric of India and undermining the independence of critical agencies like CBI and RBI. I have seen his strategy of diverting the attention of people and nation to hide his failures. Kashmir is one of them.
8
While the article is fairly balanced, the underlying premise that two nuclear states could create a bigger problem is a bit scary.
By Imran Khan's logic....he controls the nuclear arsenal of one of the two parties. So he could clearly state that its usage is off the table, and so now let's discuss.
As an Indian, I am very disappointed at what the Modi government has done, and is up to, w.r.t Kashmir. Two wrongs dont make a right, and democracy dies a slow death in India.
5
If Mr.Khan is serious about peace he should start with purging the army and the ISI of terrorist sympathizers. I am no fan of Mr.Modi and Mr.Shah and their framing of every issue in nationalist/religious terms but I think the Kashmir decision was justified. I agree with the overall sentiment expressed by the Pakistan PM that both countries need to focus elsewhere. About 50% of the people in both countries cannot fulfill their potential.
5
NYT should publish an op-ed from the point of view of India too. The prime minister of Pakistan - an oxford-educated son of a rich man - is very sophisticated at playing the Western media. But what he is whitewashing is decades of intentional violence and instability unleashed by Pakistani backed terrorists in Kashmir and the rest of India (remember the bombings in Mumbai, the hostage situation at Taj, the many many terrorist activities in Kashmir..)
There is a very good reason why the Indian administration restructured the administration in Kashmir. The status quo from 70 years had not been working and the separate set of laws for Kashmir had led to chaos. However, none of that has been reported. I have seen only the Pakistani point of view reported in all of western media (NYT, WaPo, BBC). Pakistan as a nation and a democracy is a failed state. But instead on focusing on that (or perhaps to distract from that) the string of leaders in past have just focused deliberately on Kashmir, inciting violence towards India based on that.
18
@LakesOcean
Indian backed terrorists have been wreaking havoc in Pakistan for years. They are supporting separation movement in Pakistani province of Balochistan, as well as providing arms to terrorists through out Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has lost over 70,000 people in terror attacks since 9/11.
Imran Khan's essay is a breath of fresh air vs. the typical war of words. However, it's still very one-sided. Imagine if on our borders was a US state or territory which a neighboring country actively promotes that it should be their own. Then they harbor militant who come across the border to commit atrocities on the other side as a form of asymmetrical warfare. Would we allow this to persist for even a year? How about 70?
Remember, the US actively isolates unfriendly countries in the Western Hemisphere. Major foreign powers are actively discouraged from gaining a beachhead.
Pakistan and India both use Kashmir as a nationalistic cudgel. As a military-run dictatorship, Pakistan's population has suffered the most with a GDP per capita 30% lower than India (World Bank). Its growth rate is half of India's (IMF). Instead of alluding to the nuclear arsenal, Mr. Khan needs to persuade his military and country to deescalate.
13
@Rajiv
I agree Pakistan should spend their resources on their citizens. But why India continues to shell Pakistani border towns and kill Pakistani citizens?
How would US feel if Canada had 1 million soldiers on US border, and constantly shelling its border towns and killing innocent people?
Pakistan needs an independent civilian government strong enough to resist the powerful military, before it can conduct its foreign policy, free of meddling.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is said to be keen on perpetuating a conflict with India in order to justify its power and budget.
India knows this vulnerability as well, and has no interest in resolving the Kashmir issue.
11
What does this have to do with Pakistan?
When has Kashmir ever been a part of Pakistan?
If there is a nuclear incident it will only be because Pakistan made themselves involved in something that was none of their business.
19
@rs
It has everything to do with Pakistan. What did East Pakistan had to do with India when India sent its troops in East Pakistan(Bangladesh) and started a war?
2
Because, Pakistani army killed more than 3 million of its own citizens, and millions more migrated to India. So they had to be punished for that inhuman behavior.
Some say within my country that simply voicing our opinion won't make a difference. In the comments section here, I read one suggesting that Mr. Modi and his ministers may not understand or try to understand Mr. Khan's statements. But can they deny the arguments? For how long can they say that all's well in Kashmir, what then is the justification of an almost month long curfew? However, more than Modi, this piece is for those who continue to shower accolades for reasons unknown on Mr. Modi. Awarding highest civilian orders to a terrorist leader is beyond any understanding. And if trade ties are binding, Pakistan is ever willing to expand the ties to ease the burden and tilt from India and thus, shift it towards a more humane cause.
7
Imran Khan has no rights to preach India peace, secularism, democracy or even improving economy. Its almost hilarious that as the prime minster of the first formally declared islamic nation he is telling India to practice secularism. May be he should tell his own Wahabi gangs not to commit atrocities against minority Hindus and Christians in Pakistan. He forgot that his own army planned two terrorist attacks in India after he was elected as the prime minister. He has completely failed to stop the terrorist organizations in Pakistan from carrying out attacks inside and outside his country.
Kashmir is India's internal matter and now it has been settled. Only part of Kashmir which needs to be settled is POK.
May be rather than having profound obsession with Kashmir he should think about paying the salary of the Pakistani government employees who haven't been paid for two months. May be he should stop begging for money from the Western governments and focus on managing Pakistan's economy.
Hopefully Pakistan is able reverse the path of its own destruction. Any war with india is more likely to obliterate Pakistan than solve Kashmir issues.
41
@HCJ
HCJ has forgotten the history of his own country. Until mid 90s India used to routinely beg for food from international community to feed its hungry population, while getting free weapons from its close ally Soviet Union/Russia.
India has fought 3 wars with Pakistan, 1 war with China and several military skirmishes with Bangladesh.
1
@AIM that’s precisely the point. The difference between India 1980s and India 2019...... it’s the fifth largest economy with the second largest space program. Some of the best science institutions and by the I’m an American.
3
India is not sabre rattling but there is a war hysteria from Pakistan,its funny how the same person(Imran khan) who is threatening "to employ all means at disposal "and "go to any length on Kashmir" has the chutzpah to ask intervention of the world to restore peace.
"The way in which pakistan interacts with the world is like puting a gun to its head and threatening the world that if the world doesn't listen to it, pakistan will blow its head and the world will have to deal with the mess-South Asian political and security expert from USA Stephen P. Cohen
Now to top it off Pakistan PM IMRAN KHAN, is not even sure of his position at helm ,he is widely believed to be a selected PM rather than an elected PM,his position depends on him towing the line of army and he does tow it.1) gave extension to army chief 2)did nothing to reduce dispropotionatly large army size 3)changed his position on role of army operation in province of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa.
I as an indian dont agree with the way in which my government has stopped communication channels in Jammu & Kashmir or the way in which abrogation of article 370 was done but like many other Indians i support its abrogation and dont want any foreign country to tell my govt as to what it can or can not do to its constitution.I suppose no foreign power should interfere in implementation of mandate given to a democratically elected government as long as it is not in voilation of any international treaty.
23
The only practical solution to the problem is for both countries to recognise the present control of the line in Kasmir as a permanent international border and relinquish claim to the territory control by the other. India is much more inclined to agree to this solution but Pakistan is an entirely different matter. The populace is whipped into a frenzy of freeing their co-religionists from Hindu yoke invoking 6th & 7th-century references to Islamic conquests. No political leader both in government and opposition as well as Army (army actually runs this country) is brave enough, to tell the truth to its people that India is never going give their part of Kasmir to Pakistan and Pakistan can never take it by force. Until and unless Pakistanis accept this reality and change their approach this issue will never be resolved no matter what Imran Kahan or any other Pakistani leader said. The irony is that Imran Khan and Miltary leadership know this but have chosen an ostrich policy either because of cowardice or willful suspension of disbelief.
17
@Anwar you hit it on the head...
At the time of independence in 1947, King of Kashmir chose to remain independent. However soon after that, Pakistan attacked Kashmir. The King, Hari Sing sought help from India to defeat Pakistan and decided to merge Kashmir with India to ensure safety of Kashmiris. Since then, entire Kashmir has been part of India. Unfortunately Pakistan could not digest this and kept sending Islamic terrorists to Kashmir to create disturbance in Kashmir. Millions of local Kashmiris had to flee Kashmir due to threat to their lives from Islamic militants. Thousands of Kashmiris were raped and massacred as a part of ethenic cleansing carried out by Pakistani sponsored terrorists.
Mr. Khan has conveniently ignored this history of Kashmir in his article. He has also conveniently ignored several peace initiatives taken by the PM of India in the past. Rather than condemning the terrorist attacks in Kashmir, he has tried to paint it as kind of justified revolt by a Kashmiri youth. One does not need to be in RAW or CIA to guess how such a huge amount of explosives could have reached these terrorists in Kashmir. At the time of independence, India chose to be secular and Pakistan chose to become Islamic country. The percentage of religious minorities kept plummeting ever since. PM Khan should address this issue first. It would have been nice to see Mr. Khan stating his ideas on possible solution, however unfortunately he ended his articlete with a threat to the world of possible nuclear war.
19
It’s very clear if these both countries engaged in War, whole world will feel the immense heat. More than half of the world will have to compromise on their normal life. PM Pakistan attitude is sensible and worth world attention.
6
For those who understand cricket, this essay by Imran Khan is nothing but a fast bowler’s failed attempt at trying his hand at spin. He knows fully well that there had been a meaningful reduction in cross border infiltration backed by the Pakistani army since he took over and the Pulwama attack that triggered the entire episode that he so innocently blames on a “Kashmiri” was acknowledged on the record by the Pakistan based JEM. Yet he did nothing and kept asking for proof - an old Pakistani trick...the same one they deployed after the dastardly Mumbai attacks, the perpetrators of which roam free under the protection of Imran Khan’s forces even today. So with what face does this man expect India to take him seriously?
It is his country which is a proven nuclear proliferator and has even sold technology to the worst regimes in the world, and he has the temerity to issue thinly veiled nuclear threats in writing as a way to force dialogue. Is that a way anyone should negotiate? If Imran Khan is serious, he should stop this nonsense and drama or crying wolf and playing the victim card. Pakistan should behave like a nation that has an army and not an army that has an nation. It must stop being the biggest exporter of terrorism globally. There is no reason India will not meet it half way if it doesn’t behaves like a rogue nation.
18
This is a new Pakistan. Our leader Imran Khan is a good man. He is trying to make a difference in our lives. The Kashmir issue is a strain that we do not need and can hardly afford. However, today, all of Pakistan stopped for half an hour. There were no cars moving on the streets. All office workers left their desks and stepped out into the streets. Shops dropped their shutters. Factories stopped making t-shirts? We were not forced to do this by any army or government. Just the words of Imran Khan asking for our support. 200 million people stood up for Kashmir today.
125
@NasirR. I think you are right. He probably is a man with good intentions. The issue in Pakistan has never been the civilian govt. It has always been the military. Even today, I don't believe Imran Khan has much power of his own. Everything he says or does is dictated by the military and that is a problem.
No one in their right mind would think that India would give away its land at any cost. No, that would never happen. If it was to happen, it would have happened already, definitely not anymore. I also think the Kashmir on the Pakistani side will also never come back to India. The Pakistani military establishment should digest this reality and move on. The moment they agree that Indian side of Kashmir is part of India and recognize the LOC as the international border, there are chances of any realistic changes. Only time and some more blood will get us there unfortunately. I believe Mr Modi's step is the right one in that direction.
8
@NasirR
Mr Nasir, This is beautiful news as I picture all Pakistanis out in the streets showing their feelings and brings a welling up of emotion for me. I was so happy when Imran was elected. It is the first time I felt hope for Pakistan, a country I love dearly and have had such wonderful experiences in. As an American I can say it also was the first time I could feel proud to be American when Obama was elected. I just hope there will be more international help for the Kashmiris soon.
9
Your suggested solution was, in fact, proposed by Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the then Pakistan PM, Mia Nawaz Sharif, during his goodwill tour to Lahore.
However, Pakistan’s had other plans. General Musharraf, ordered an attack on Kargil, India, without its PM’s knowledge, and Musharaf staged a coup against Sharif. As long as Pak military is running its enterprise, Pakistan can’t be trusted.
1
We are all in danger not because of what Mr. Modi has done regarding an internal matter for India, but Pakistan's use of terror and terrorist network to achieve what it has failed to achieve either on the battlefield or through diplomacy. If Mr. Khan is serious about peace with India, he can hand over the mastermind of Mumbai terrorist attack, Hafez Saeed to India, dismantle the terror infrastructure, and stop infiltrating terrorists into India. I do not see these happening because it is the military that calls the shots in Pakistan and Pakistani military has no desire or incentives for peace with India. As for Mr. Khan's professed desired for peace, there is a sad history of Pakistan "stabbing India in back" (to paraphrase Mr. Nawaz Sharif, a predecessor of Mr. Khan, after the Kargil misadventure of 1999 by Pakistan following the peace initiative of the then Indian PM Vajpayee).
13
When the borders of Pakistan and India were defined in 1947, 2-3 million people lost their lives to ethnic strife. Sikhs, Punjabis and Bengalis bore the brunt. Families still remember the horrors that could not be stopped by the British or Indian leaders. Gandhiji's fasts had effects in bringing calm. India needs another Gandhi to heal the North. I dont see either Imran Khan or Modi filling that role. So far the massive presence of Indian armed forces have stopped terrorist attacks, ethnic violence, looting and other ills experienced when the borders changed. It may take years before the people of Kashmir can live a full life. Whatever happens the violence of Partition must not happen again.
1
At it’s heart, this is a religious conflict, one that has persisted for hundreds of years. Like all religious conflicts, it is exacerbated by the number one rule of religions: we’re right, you’re wrong. Religions engage in these sorts of conflicts because they gain power and influence by convincing their adherents to agree with the we’re right/their wrong proposition. That the opposing claims have no basis in fact or reason, and instead rely on emotional claims to ancient, tribal artifacts of human nature, is what makes these conflicts intractable.
Hindus and Muslims are not unique, and history is replete with plenty of examples of other religions utilizing the same methods. Yet in the context of the modern world, this conflict has been particularly persistent and costly. It continues because both religions have fostered an unsupported claim to moral supremacy and incited believers to deadly rage. Neither side is blameless, and neither side is willing to call it quits.
It likely isn’t possible to remove religion from the conflict, but if we truly wish to evaluate it as a moral question, it is not hard to see both sides as equally responsible for all the deaths already incurred, and all that are certain to come.
3
@Marshall Doris
It is incorrect to treat the oppressor and oppressed with same measure. India is a land of many religions, From Hinduism sikhism, buddhism, parsi and jainism which all coexisted peacefully for over a thousand years. Hinduism don't promote "Ours is true God" theory or "one religion - one God" dogma or any religious supremacy unlike the Abrahamic religions. Thats why never in the history we saw any crusades, Jihads sort of wars committed by Hindus.
No! It’s not religious .. Yes Pakistan is a radical Islamic state where even Ahmediyas ( a non-wasabi Muslim sect) are persecuted and hounded, where blasphemy laws can lead to death by stoning.. but this is about integrating Kashmir into the fabric of secular India with a non Arab culture and sharing the prosperity with them. Imran would like the Kashmiris to suffer like the rest of the Pakistanis. No! it ain’t going to happen !!!
It's very interesting that there's no reference in Prime Minister Khan's piece about what Pakistan has done with the life of Kashmiri's in one third of the region that it controls. He would be in a much position about commenting on the destiny of Kashmiris had he shown how Kashmiris are so much better off both economically and self-determination wise in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
Let's not forget that it was Pakistan which invaded Kashmir right after the partition of India when its ruler decide to join India. By using Kashmir as a proxy against India since the late 1940s, Pakistan has turned one of the most historically peaceful regions in the world into haven for militants and terrorists.
Modi's clampdown on Kashmir is undemocratic and regrettable, but Prime Minister Khan cannot escape denying Pakistan's role in contributing to what led up it.
9
If India and Pakistan were to go into full out war, where would the rest of the world stand? I'm worried that the world is headed towards a future where right leaning authoritarians just have a blind support for one another simply due to shared ideology.
Look at how Trump has protected Bolsonaro when the rest of the world stood against his destruction of the Amazon. Trump doesn't gain anything really from Bolsaonaro's actions in the Amazon, but he does like to reinforce the image of a global right wing populist authoritarian uprising in which they all walk in lockstep with one another. All it would take is one authoritarian leader of a major nation to throw their support behind India to drag the rest of the world's UN countries into taking sides in this conflict.
Unconditionally siding with India is not something I'd put past a man like Boris Johnson who frequently use anti-Muslim rhetoric to gain support. Unconditionally siding with Boris "Britain Trump" Johnson isn't something I'd put past President Trump. And finally, where would Putin side in a war where one side represents the rightist anti-democracy authoritarian rise he's been trying to orchestrate? It should be obvious.
This conflict could be the conflict these leaders needed to solidify a realignment of the world's traditional alliances and create a unified group of authoritarians who have proudly hijacked their respective country's democracy.
4
As a Kashmiri I totally concur with the statement of Mr Khan, however in the past politicians and certain elements of the armed forces have played a detrimental role when it came to Kashmir. Even now we still hear the Mantra that kashmir will be part of Pakistan. While Kashmiris are grateful to the people of Pakistan in highlighting the humans rights abuses in Indian Kashmir.We will forever be grateful for the sacrifices your soldiers have made. But only the people of Kashmir from both side of the LOC must decide their democratic future. Personally I want to see a independent Kashmir with no allegiance to Islamabad or Delhi. But if in a referendum the majority decide its best to side with Pakistan then that’s democracy in action. A referendum that was promised to the people of Kashmir under UN resolutions has yet to be fulfilled. The UN’s inaction in carrying this out has proved its utter failure as a organisation. Pakistan and India must be forced to pull their troops back from Kashmir and a UN peacekeeping force installed to let Kashmiris decide their future
8
@Irfan. Referendum is valid when we have all native Kashmiris back in Kashmir. Unfortunately in the past seventy years more than 90 percent of non-Muslim natives Kashmiris had to flee Kashmir due to the atrocities and killings they were subjected to. In the Pakistan occupied Kashmir, local Kashmiris are in minority as Pakistan systematically moved and settled non Kashmiries in Kashmir.
4
This op-ed is disingenuous at best... The worst thing that happened to the Kashmiri indigenous autonomy movement was the involvement of Pakistan. They exported multiple jihadi terror groups across the burder and turned what could have been a non-violent protest into an Islamist civil war that massacred / drove-out almost every non-Sunni inhabitant of the Valley.
In this op-ed, Imran Khan ignores the fact that it was Pakistani terror group JeM that took credit for the February suicide attack (not just that "India blamed Pakistan")
It's also interesting that Pakistan ignores the fact that they literally did the same thing decades ago in violation of UN agreements: they bifurcated PoK - and separated Gilgit Baltistan. They also gifted part of PoK to China. They changed the demographics of PoK. It's hard to give credence to their arguments.
The timing of the removal of article 370 is not coincidental. The US is pulling out of Afghanistan and are negotiating a deal with the Taliban. The last time the Taliban were in power in Afghanistan, they (and their compatriots in Pakistan) unleashed terror in Kashmir.
I hope the security forces can safely lift the blockade soon, but if Pakistan had not been exporting cross-border terrorist for the past 30 years it's unlikely any of this would have happened.
27
Thanks Imran Khan for bring this up on an international media, world has to understand that the value of life of Kashmiri people and their rights are as important as the rights and value of life of any person living in New York, Toronto and Paris. Are we gona stand up and raise our voices when our property or life is at risk ?? We cannot stay ignorant of people being humiliated and their life being put to risk. We can not continue to enjoy our lives in such humanitarian crisis.
3
Were Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to leave Kashmir in 1990’s, not human beings?
1
Although it is unfortunate that recently there has been a "Hindu nationalist" rise in India as Khan points out, and some incidents of violence against minorities; but what Mr Khan forgot is the systemic and deliberate annihilation of minorities (Hindus. Sikhs, Ahmedias and Christians) in the "Islamic State" of Pakistan since its independence. Mr Khan is worried about India taking away special status of Indian administered J&K but what about Pak taking away special status of Gilgit and Baltistan in Pak occupied Kashmir?
Pakistan is acting as an "ideological" state (has always acted like that) and trumping up this war hysteria is part of that.
17
This is a very dynamic article which clearly charts a proper way forward, I can’t even imagine it’s written by a sitting prime minister who understands the problem from the core and wants to move on without a conflict.
India Pakistan should set aside the ego , specially India’ and let the Kashmiris decide what they want as it would’ve already happened in the first world country.
I must say, prime ministers knowledge of history to the current paradigms is very thorough.
8
Let us step back in time for a brief history on the conflict. As the subcontinent moved towards independence, it became clear that Hindu and Muslim interests could not be reconciled and Pakistan was created, as an Islamic state, out of the partition of the UK's Indian Empire. Pakistan as an Islamic state was born carving out two geographical distinct far flung areas to create East & West Pakistan. India though having a majority Hindu population continued to remain secular. The atrocities and tyranny of West Pakistan lead to the 1971 war and the nation of Bangladesh was born. Earlier in 1947 armed trials backed by the Pakistan Army raided Kashmir and the King of the state acceded to India against an offer to stop the intruders. Today the folks in part of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan live like 2nd grade citizens. They have a parliament but the writ of Islamabad runs large out here. The Kashmiris under Pakistan cannot even vote in Pakistan's national elections. Kashmir under India has flourished with liberal democratic values. Thanks to Pakistan aiding terrorism Kashmir has seen lot of bloodshed and violence for three decades. The country which provided refuge to Osama Bin Laden today talks of rights of Kashmir the only link being their affiliation to the same religious order. Mr. Khan, sorry the people of Kashmir chose to stay with India and the government's move is a better way at assimilation of the average Kashmiri.
19
This nuclear war can start in seconds and tactical nukes are considered in a limited war. The generals can start this war with India having a high teck.advantage. Trump Is limited in his thinking,so expect no sane intervention. There are water issues that can bring people to the table .Millions of people could die if some other country does not step up and fill a United States diplomatic inability.
5
India has been systematic in clamping the Kashmir problem, though late. First dry up the terrorism money channeled through Pakistan's cohorts, next develop satellite based imaging to keep track of ISI sponsored terrorist movements 24/7. It is up to Kashmiri people to realize that eternal war is not part of religion, though it has been that way.
5
Just a thought, if you wanted and obtained grown up toys, in this case nuclear weapons, then act like grown ups.
I expect two year old's to run around yelling, "he took my toy" not nuclear armed nations.
3
Mr. Kahn avoids discussing the root cause of the animosity between Pakistan and India as now manifested, once again, in Kashmir. In that regard, reference to the influence of Nazism on Mr. Modi's guru and, therefore, Mr. Modi, seems well off the mark. The root cause predates the 1947 grant of independence by about 1,000 years.
In his book on Oriental mythology, Joseph Cambell has a section entitled "The Blow of Islam." Campbell describes in great detail some of the atrocities conquering Muslim invaders inflicted on Hindus and Buddhists. For all intents and purposes Buddhism ceased to exist in India. Animosity between Muslims and Hindus was what caused the creation of Pakistan and the murder of hundreds of thousands of each during that chaotic period.
Several years ago I toured India with a small group of Americans. We were led by a highly educated Hindi. After referring to what Campbell wrote, I asked him how Hindus felt about Muslims. Without any emotion, he replied, "If we could we would kill them all."
I am not justifying what Mr. Modi is doing in Kashmir and in other parts of India. That I condemn. I am saying that if Mr. Kahn really wants to solve the Kashmir problem, he should not ignore, or mislead others about, its origins.
6
@John Do you really think that what happened years ago should be whipped up to account for what is occurring now? Remember Bosnia and 19th Century victory by the Serbs over the Ottoman empire. Hatred of the Muslims unleashed untold misery and genocide against ethnic Albanians. The use of history to rationalize contemporary behavior is an old strategy, but not one to repeat. I do not countenance Pakistan's support of terrorism, but India has a lot to account for as well.
3
@renee
My guide was telling me that what happened centuries ago is almost indelibly imprinted in several hundred million Indian minds. This empowers Mr. Modi to engage in what is seen as pro-Hindi, anti-Muslim actions in Kashmir. The unresolved animosity of centuries ago was apparent in the creation of Pakistan in the last century and in Mr. Modi's actions. The hatred may be reciprocal: most blame the Pakistani government for the slaughter that occurred in Mumbai several years ago.
I said I condemn what is happening. I do so for the very reasons you suggest. But, the facts are the facts. Mr. Modi is going to kick out as many Muslims as he can in Kashmir and India. The situation is not much different from Attaturk kicking out most of the Greeks living in Turkey after the Republic was created and the Greek government kicking out most of the Turks who lived in Greece.
If Kahn is sincere and to be taken at his word, Pakistan and India could set the world on a course toward peace and prosperity .. as if they can create a solution for this long-going disagreement, so many other regional conflicts could base their remediation on this model. Why, can't we work for greater good once and for all. If we are not to self-implode this planet and its inhabitants, someone has to be first. Let's go!
3
I'm fascinated by Imran Khan's mention of “Pujiniya Shri Guruji" which translates to "Guru Worthy of Worship", because that is exactly what is going on with our own Republican party.
The beauty of being a guru is, of course, that the more nonsense you spout, the more your followers believe in you.
Dangerous is dangerous, anywhere in the world.
Note: not taking sides in the Kashmir issue, just pointing out how some people can manage to seize power in remarkable ways.
3
What gave Pakistan the authority to cede part of Kashmiri territory to China? Was there a referendum in Kashmir to determine if people wanted their territory to be ceded to China? Let us start there.
28
If Pakistan really care about Kashmiris then perhaps Mr. Khan can also explain why a slice of Kashmir was given by Pakistan to China, why so much aggression when the Indian government brought Kashmiris on par with rest of Indians, and finally why can’t Pakistan controlling 1/3 of Kashmir be the end of it all.
17
Without reading any of the comments to follow this article, I am sure that most Hindus will not see any legitimacy on Mr. Imran's offer of peace, will use the same old blame game. Pakistan has suffered immensely at the hands of the terrorists, it is true that Pakistan can do a bit more to bring the non-state actors who have caused mischief under control and where proven put them behind bars. Same can also be said of the extremists Hindus who are killing end up destroying Muslims. It will take courage for leadership on both sides to bring lasting peace or each other. The world cannot ignore this fast moving disaster, nobody is willing to hold India responsible because it has become an economic power, you cannot compare Pakistan to Palestine as it has nuclear arms and if put in an impossible position disaster may follow.
6
When you feed terrorist snakes, of course they will come back to bite you. Stop feeding the terrorist.
@Mir Have you been to India? Do you even know how life is for muslims in India? Even villages in India play calls for morning prayers on loud speakers. The majority Hindus could have suppressed it, but they don't. The government of India provides Muslims with highly subsidized packages to perform Haj. Such concessions are not made to Hindus. While it is easy to believe the hatred and mis-information spewed by Pakistani media and ISI, truth is far from it. I can tell you first hand that I had many muslim friends growing up in India and we were all religion-blind.
I throughly disagree with Modi's playing the religious card in India. But lets talk about what Imran Khan says in this article.
Imran Khan says he wanted to negotiate with India vis-a-vis Kashmir. This is disingenuous. Was he going to be willing to give up some of the Kashmir territory controlled by Pakistan. No, he just wanted India to give up territory to Pakistan. But with that obviously failing, he could use the talks as a political weapon. Why would India enter into such talks.
Pakistan is not a democracy. Pakistan is a cruel country that murders people who are accused of blasphemy. It protects terrorists such as those who murdered over 150 people in Mumbai, and it was probably protecting Osama Bin Laden since he was hiding one mile from a Pakistan military base. India has its faults, but the Kashmir people are much better off in India.
India is not going to give Kashmir to Pakistan now...or in 25 or 50 years. So, it is time to integrate Kashmir into India and make it possible for Kashmir to eventually flourish. India, of course, should invest heavily in the development of Kashmir and its people.
18
If division of secular democratic India is based on a communal, religious agenda , then what rights would 190 million muslims would have to continue to live in India, after Pakistan has been created for muslims of british India by dividing India ? How can you divide a territory on a religious ideology and having extermnated minorities from one part , claim the right to live as minorities in the other part ?
W Pakistan has exterminated its 22% Hindu/Sikh population in 1947 to 1% today , in sharp contrast muslims have continued to live in India in growing numbers while Hindus have been exterminated in Pakistan.
Hindus and India, have so far not retaliated to the treatment of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists in Pakistan. Where is the appreciation and admiration for that virtue in face of brazen lies , extermination of minorities and terrorism from Pakistan ?
20
Kashmir is unfinished agenda of partition in 1947. UN accepted it in its resolution and adapted a resolution but failed to comply it, in the last 70 years.
I think it is a time World specially UN must do their job, because that is what the UN was established after World War II.
I am afraid if immediate and proper action is not taken against Indian action in Kashmir then we may face another challenge of AlQaida type of situation where those people take situation in their hands.
4
Imran Khan has described the fact that the atrocities on Kashmiris have been widely highlighted all over the world.India publicly opposes UN resolutions and challenges Kashmiris' sovereignty.Human rights abuses are rampant in Kashmir, UN should think about it.
3
Both countries send people to America. They send lots of good, hard-working, educated people.
Close the door until the governments come to their sense.
1
What would Trump do? Has the Great Dealmaker weighed in yet? Maybe tariffs would help.
I'm not a Modi fan and I agree to the criticism of Hindutva politics to certain extend which by itself based on the reflection of the India's much more secular past but let's not overblow it. There are few horrible incidents against minorities but we are talking in proportion of 1 in a billion. It would be naive to think there incidents never happened before Modi was elected.
Outside of oil rich Arab world I think Indian Muslims are most prosperous among all.
On other hand Pakistan is a failed state. So called democracy is pepper between Dictatorship, military rule, assassinations.
In house Terrorism, extreme violence even against Muslims of different sect, extermination of non-Muslim minorities, terrorism against both of its neighbors. This is Pakistan.
Pakistan should liberate Balochistan and it's occupied part of Kashmir along with the one it donated to China and reform itself to be more tolerant towards its minorities and resettle them back before it can raise concerns about the rights of India Kashmir.
14
Freedom is right of Kashmiri people, the world cannot deny it with its criminal silence. Pakistan needs to go a step further to make the world realize their mistake.
3
What we do not hear about: (i) Kashmiri Pandits who were driven from their homes in the 1990s, (ii) Pakistan's proxy war in Kashmir, (iii) Pakistan meddling in Afghanistan, (iv) Pakistan trying to torpedo Afghan elections and install Taliban extremists (to the detriment of Afghan women, peace & stability).
Unfortunately, I have never seen a truly balanced presentation of this issue - just hysterical finger-pointing.
10
Every time something like this occurs we get a call to arms from some quarter. Every time the United States comes to the rescue we inevitably widen the catastrophe.
4
US should avoid religious militancy in both Pakistan and India.
Here Pakistan has a much (much) larger track record of fueling religious extremism and militancy. For people who don't have time to read about it to understand, the quickest way to understand the issue is the fact Pakistan accepted several billions of dollars of our money and hid Osama bin laden.
7
I hardly think Imran Khan has approached India with an idea to foster peaceful relations. His write up seeks to inflame an international audience by highlighting the right wing stance of the present Indian government. He does this by artfully avoiding any mention of the right wing choke hold in Pakistan which has resulted in the country’s military being a separate entity that enables the Taliban. Note Osama was sort of safe in Pakistan. How about Pakistanis stop persecuting the Shia Muslims and other minorities. How about you support women, education, freedom etc. in Pakistan before talking about extreme factions in India. Begin by cleaning house. Set an example. Perhaps you will win the hearts of millions of Indians who may be poor and under the rule of a Hindu leaning government, but they are free to express their innermost thoughts. Yes Hindus and Muslims have their share of animosities in India, but you know what, the majority live in peace as friends. I know, I grew up with many good Muslim friends, all of them relieved to be Indian. In Kashmir, the media seeks to confuse Muslim people. Opening Kashmir to Indians and embracing it as an Indian state, will open it to development and opportunity for the Kashmiri Muslims. It would be a boon to Pakistan as a more prosperous region would flank their borders. Tourism would likely make its way over from Kashmir to Pakistan, if Imran Khan’s government would allow for a kinder future.
8
Modi when in India, says Kashmir is internal matter of India. While in presence of Trump, he says that Its bilateral issue. Modi is confused obviously, because he has made a blunder on Kashmir while going against the UNSC resolution and promises given by Indian govt. to give right of plebiscite to Kashmiris, whether they want to live with India Or Pakistan? And he knows Kashmiris want to go with Pakistan. So such a black out of media, communication tools and 26 days curfew is there. 900000 troops already deployed for genocide in Kashmir making it most militarized zone in the world. If world community doesn't listen peaceful efforts to force India reverse its brutal actions and give the ate of plebiscite due for last 70 years, Pakistan would feel itself cornered and thus leaving no option other than having the final battle with India in real. It would be disastrous, as India threatens to use nuclear weapons first. World would face the consequences. 2 billion people would die immediately. What are you waiting for?
5
india claims to be the biggest democracy. act like one let kashmiris vote. they can become independent or join pakistan or india. it is simple if acted upon by faith and principle otherwise wait for a nuclear disaster involving the persian gulf and middle east and destroying world stability. modi has made india a hindu nationalist state.
3
The solution of kashmir lies in right of self determination. We have already seen many referendum in recent past, most recent was in Ireland i think, so why can't kashmiris decide for their future? The world is asleep right now but we kashmiries are waking for last 70 years and waiting for independence from India. In Pakistan administrated kashmir, where we live, there is complet peace. There is no sign of peace at all in Jammu kashmir where indian forces have been brutal over the years...we, along with Pakistan, will stand for kashmiries in Indian occupied kashmir till our last breath and till the Independence... Long live Pakistan long live kashmir
4
Very surprised to see an Op-ed from the PM of Pakistan in NY Times. He is very desperate for International attention. Mr Khan looks like he's more worried about his future as the PM & his legacy than people of Kashmir. The opposition parties in Pakistan have seized the opportunity to criticize the government on Kashmir. Why is Mr Khan talking like a war monger by mentioning nuclear arms? Is he trying to instigate regional unrest to capture International attention? Mr Khan's behavior is akin to a toddler trying to get attention of his parents by crying out loud. First he went to China then to the UN & now to the NY times. Is Pakistan really in a position to wage war against India with its economy down the drain? Mr Khan should be worrying more about reducing poverty, creating jobs & building infrastructure. While Mr Khan is writing Op-eds in the newspapers, Mr Modi of India is making deals with G7 countries. France had invited India as a special Guest to the G7 meet & Mr Modi delivered a speech at Climate Change session. I completely disagree with the view that the US should intervene in this issue as some readers commented. The US has no business in the Kashmir issue & should stop acting like a "Big Brother" to rest of the world. If anything, India & Pakistan should try to peacefully address the issue. NY Times as a newspaper can express its views on Kashmir but shouldn't have taken sides by providing the PM of Pakistan a platform to parrot his views.
11
Interesting, thoughtful and yet some provocative comments in response to the Pakistani Prime Ministers Op-Ed letter. I urge the RSS followers to read the Gita by which they are inspired to go on a killing spree of Muslims, Christians and Dalits in their motherland. Come together, talk together...Let our minds be in harmony.
“Before giving up this present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of the material senses and check the force of desire and anger, he is well situated and is happy in this world.”
Bhagavad Gita 05.23
3
I suppose when everyone lives in poverty and there is nothing to look forward to in life, people just continue to fight under the leadership of leaders who are stuck in the past.
Trump is stuck in the past and probably doesnt even know where Kashmir is located. Not till we get a progressive democrat in the White House will we regain the trust of the world and stop this constant fighting. Murder is murder doesnt matter what your nationality is Its not the 1880's anymore, resources are limited lets change the lenses of these glasses and move forward.
1
If you read this article Imran Khan and the Pakistani establishment sound like they are saints.
If what you read here is true, I wonder why Pakistan is on the verge of being placed on the blacklist of the international watchdog "Financial Action Task Force (FATF)" for sponsoring terrorism worldwide including Kashmir. This is just one notch below being declared a "Terrorist State". It is not a coincidence that every terrorist of any "fame" has passed through Pakistan during the course of his "illustrious Career".
The Times should not provide sponsors of terrorism a forum to spread their lies. Even though I disagree with Trump on many things, The Times should not give any impression of why he could be correct if he calls them the "Fake News".
16
The US has helped both of these countries build Nuclear Arsenals..
What could go wrong??
Everything..
1
Good walls make good neighbors. When Pakistan and India separated, it would have been much better if Muslims left India and Hindu's left Pakistan and Bangladesh. It sounds cruel, but it is not always easy for different types of people to live together. It works in NYC where my friends and neighbors are Pakistan, India, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Peru and the United States. But, it does not seem to work in Kashmir.
I wonder how much of India's antagonism is a result of the vacuum created by the United State's lack of leadership resulting from trump's tenure in the White House.
@Arch66
You are 100% wrong on this one. Avoid seeing everything through Trump prism. President Obama tried to get involved but withdrew after realizing the complexity of the problem.
For the last 70 years, any leader of Pakistan, whether military dictator or an elected Prime Minister must declare India as an enemy to survive. No leader can survive if his/her focus is economic well being of all Pakistanis.
8
Unfortunately, history did not begin when Mr. Khan was "selected" to be the PM of Pakistan by its powerful military (Refer bipartisan Congressional Research Service report dated 8/23/2019).
Modi's predecessor from BJP, Prime Minister AB Vajpayee went to Pakistan and exhorted the Pakistanis for peace. The result was the limited war in Kargil, where Pakistani army occupied strategic heights in order to materially change the nature of the status quo. The wars in 1948 and 1965 were initiated by the same Pakistan army to wrench Kashmir by force. Indian attempts to dialog or normalize relation have usually resulted in carnage across India.
Modi has been elected, not selected, in a free and fair election fulfill the aspirations of its 1.3 billion people, including 8 million Kashmiris. The changes made by him are subject to interpretation by the Supreme Court of India for constitutionality. Until the Supreme Court declares it unconstitutional and Modi refuses to comply, this is an internal matter of India. Nuclear saber rattling and threats of war has no place in a civilized world, just as proxy wars and state sponsorship of violent extremism are no longer acceptable. Pakistan should consider why it is in the FATF gray, soon to be black, list.
Mr. Khan should really focus on why FATF is looking at Pakistan and why Pakistan is seeking economic bailouts from IMF. Not that he can do anything about it.
10
As a decades-old reader of NYT, I can't help but feel that its coverage of the happenings in Kashmir are shrilly one-sided. I wish that the paper of record would also look at what has actually happened in, and to, Kashmir during the last 70+ years with Article 370 in force - near-constant terror, massive political corruption, no real development given the ever present conflict, and a festering open wound on the Indian nation. We have to wait to see how the Indian government will execute this change and deliver on its promises of inclusion and development, but it is time we take a new path forward. Lunacy to keep going under the fig leaf of Article 370.
Pakistan, the classic epitome of a failed state, shouldn't be preaching to anyone else how to run their affairs. This is a country rife with extremism, an almost complete lack of governance (witness Karachi's current pathos), ever present internecine conflict between political / ethnic / religious groups, and no real exports other than state-sponsored terror. Physician, heal thyself!
11
Pakistan was carved out of India to satisfy the demands of India’s Muslim separatists. Kashmir was not part of the deal. The aggressor is Pakistan...and always was.
7
Tears are rolling down my eyes to read what a righteous country Pakistan has become. The harbinger of terrorism and global jihad whose unrelenting focus since it’s inception has been to bleed india by a thousand cuts is crying wolf.
The only time that we were even close to a solution to Kashmir was during the vajpai- Nawaz sharif days. Vajpai traveller to Lahore with genuine intent and what we got in return was Kargil where as history will tell you Pakistan denied even to take its own soldiers bodies claiming they were not their military .
Coming to the Kashmir situation of today, there have been 2 deaths in the last 25 days because of these “restrictions”
Kashmir has NEVER been normal with over 40000 deaths in last 30 years. 200 every month , this govt had two options, continue with status quo and let the peace loving neighbours continue with their agenda or remove 370 and STOP the dance of death. It will mean taking away civil liberties and democratic rights for a short amount of time and without a doubt it is a bitter pill to swallow but am glad Modi chose the latter. The larger issue is only in 5 districts of the valley where rampant islamiZation and sharia is responsible and this Tumour has to be removed once and for all and am glad Modi had the courage to do the same.
Please Mr ImrAn khan stop preaching your righteousness and focus on your economy. We have a lot of shared cultural heritage history will be witness that if you forget Kashmir your country will truly grow.
10
Let people of Kashmir be given their right of self determination in accordance with the UN resolutions on on the issue
2
There is no Kashmir movement that can be separated from global Islamic terrorism, as of now. . Please remember that Daniel Pearl was beheaded by pro-Kashmiri militants, 166 innocent people including 9 American Jews were killed in Mumbai by Islamic terrorists. 4 Kashmiri terrorists tried to kill Indian cabinet ministers in the infamous Parliament attack. The goal of the attack which took place 2 months after the 9/11 attacks was to derail the international coalition against the Al Qaeda.
Best way of avoiding nuclear war, is for Pakistan to renounce all support to terrorism. Even stone pelting on security forces is a form of terrorism.
Pakistan signed an agreement with India, that ended the 1971 war. This agreement promises peaceful resolution of all issues between the two countries. If he sticks to the agreement, no nukes will be ever used.
7
We all thought this was the best time to resolve the Kashmir issue because Imran Khan has Army's full backing whereas Modi hails from a right-wing pressure-yielding RSS. These leaders could have pulled this through but it looks like Modi is adamant on pulling another massacre off. Bad for tens of millions of the poor Indians & Pakistanis who were looking so desperately to change their lot.
1
And why the Pakistani leader and people needs to interfere in Indian matter? This is not your issue.
Are you guys worried about drugs business in many countries?
Worried about wars in Yemen, Syria, Libya? Didn’t see IK or other Pakistani leaders voicing their concerns on world forum about serious humanitarian issues in many parts of the world. Then why selectively choose only one issue which anyway you have no control on? What Indian government did was their own right and choice. Nothing for Pakistan or any other country/ institution to interfere in it.
IK and Pakistan - it is very weak gesture from you that you expect world to look after you when it comes about policies regarding India and you are not at all capable of looking after yourselves. Look after your own country- you are poor in economy, education, democracy, media, military, etc. Please look after yourselves. Else others will take advantage of you and your weakness.
6
let me get this right, you Pakistan hid OBL from us for years, while at the same time took our money. You, at best, looked the other way at the Taliban and more likely sponsored them. While they killed Americans, and all the while you took our money. This is a known terrorist organization. You say you want peace, but the hard liners in your military and government sure don't. They hate the west and what we believe in.
Pakistan is interested in one thing, and its not peace, its not making its country better for its citizens and its not being a good world power.
8
The solution lies in the following:
1. Pakistan totally ceases and deists infiltration into Kashmir and discontinues the proxy war against India . Pakistan has to demonstrate and make it evident that it has allowed Kashmir to return to peace and stability.
2. Pakistan has to accept once and for all that the LOC is the permanent and international border beween India and Pakistan.
3. Then Pakistan and India can engage in establishing a brand new world in the subcontinent in trade, commerce, education travel and all facets of cultural amalgamation.
1
The several invectives that Imran Khan raised against Modi on the abrogation -- like changing the demographics of Kashmir, ethnic cleansing, ill-treating minorities and others -- are more applicable to Pakistan. The Hindu population in Pakistan in 1971 (after the Bangladesh war) was nearly 2.9%. Now it is around 1.7%. In India, Muslim population is growing at a higher rate than the average. Pakistan’s Hindus, Christians, Ahmedis, and Sikhs encounter violence against them and their women. Balochs complain that Punjabis and Sindhis are changing the demographics of Baluchistan, the mineral rich, thinly populated region.
Christians, Sikhs and Hindus are prohibited by law from holding the office of the president, prime minister, or the chief Justice, or in the military. Ahmedis are hounded out and persecuted, and cannot even contest elections.
And Pakistan has already changed the demographics in the part of Kashmir it occupies and in the Gilgit/Baltistan region with people from the Punjab, both of which are now directly administered by Islamabad. So, on these matters, Imran Khan has to only stand in front a mirror before accusing Modi.
-- Kollengode S Venkataraman
6
All credit to the new prime minister of Pakistan who has gone through great lengths to achieve peace with India. Real shame that he has been rebuffed at every opportunity, this letter is clear to me he is sincere about peace, he is leaving no stone un turned. I'm sure family of the pilot he released will be ever grateful but so sad his government sent him across the boarder just to pop up support in the opinion polls, amazing what lengths some politicians will go to so they can retain their seats, In my opinion Pakistan prime minister could be a contender for the noble peace prize for deescalating the situation, otherwise if mishandled could have resulted in war and possibly into Nuclear.
real shame that the illiterate population of both sides don't understand millions could lose their lives, world has moved on from sticks & stones, it's now nuclear weapons which could destroy whole cities, remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki, remember millions of Jews were sent to gas chambers because of right wing individuals!
So sad G7 leaders missed a great opportunity to have both countries leaders present for discussion, not even a word that 9 million people are prisoned in their homes! At least they invited the Iran delegation at the last minute to deescalate the situation in the gulf, shows if they want it could be done.
1
While I agree that the Modi government is ham fisted and takes decisions without much thought for the consequences, Imran Khan or any other Pakistani politician has no right to preach. The hypocrisy is dripping in his article. The anti-muslim violence may have increased under the Modi government but there is no comparison to what happens in India to the mass and systematic abuse, murder and persecution of minorities in Pakistan. Pakistan is a failed state run by the army, ISI, crazy fanatical mullahs and their followers. There is no human rights for minorities or anyone who dissents with the mullah’s interpretation of islam. why it was only a year ago that a Pakistani student was lynched and stoned for allegedly talking bad about islam, and Imran Khan’s party folk were part of the lynch mob. India, unlike Pakistan, is still a democracy and has functioning institutions, and still believes in equal rights for all its citizens no matter their religion.
8
There was a concerted effort on part of the Pakistan military to create havoc and chaos in Kashmir. Pakistan military encouraged terrorism in Kashmir and thousands of Hindus fled Kashmir. indian military had no choice but to enter to keep peace.
What Pakistan military and Govt is doing all around then including Baluchistan is no secrete. So Mr Khan, first control your military then I India could talk to you.
5
All that well meaning Americans need to know about the reality of the so called "freedom struggle" of Kashmiris in the Indian part of Kashmir:
1) No movie theaters, cinema halls are allowed in any areas of the state where the "freedom fighters" are in a majority.
2) Women are forced to cover themselves in veils
3) In 1989, the minority Hindus were forced out of their homes by these "freedom fighters" with cries of
a) "We will achieve Freedom without Hindu men, but will keep Hindu women and girls as sex slaves" and
b) "Leave, convert to Islam or die"
c) "The meaning of freedom is La Ilah Illalah" (the first verse of the Quran which means that there is no God except Allah and Muhammed is his messenger".
The Pakistani PM is shouting from the rooftops that India has annexed Kashmir, but all that India has done is to remove the special status of the Indian Held Kashmir state by scrapping an article from the INDIAN constitution. Pakistan had already removed the same special status from its portion of Kashmir IN 1974 (45 years ago). After that Pakistan rapidly changed the demographics of its portion of Kashmir by flooding it with settlers from the plains. It also gifted a portion of Kashmir state to China.
16
Injustice for Kashmiris would never bring peace to India no matter how many billions India pumps into Kashmir. US took the same approach in Afghanistan, as did India. Now India wants to be the policeman in Afghanistan. What delusion of grandeur!! If USSR or USA could not do it in Afghanistan, or India in Kashmir, why would India survive Afghanistan or Kashmir. Stop being the bully and everyone would benefit. Talk peace and the region would emerge as hypereconomic power. You would never be able to teach Pakistan "the" lesson abd would lose much along the way. You should never fight the war of Pakistan's survival with Pakistan. The wounds you receive would be mortal.
UNO has clearly declared that Kashmir is not the Internal matter of India but a disputed territory.
UN Peace Keeping Forces should take control of Valley. Indian Army should be removed. Plebicite should be held in Supervision of UNO.
1
First off, Pakistan should clean up its own yard by getting rid of all terrorists that have been constantly attacking India over the years, and then they should stop crying like spoilt children that need's US aid all the time. What can they do on their own? Nothing. Everything there is imported. India is a self sufficient democratic country, they build their own satellites and space shuttles. Pakistan had done nothing for the harmony of kashmiris, they only instigate the locals to rebel and cause trouble.
5
Pakistan ruled by ISI and the Military. India although supposed to be secular now ruled by RSS and Hindutva loving Shah and Modi. God save South Asia and by extension the world.
2
I have known several Indian and Pakistinian people in my life. I cannot believe either culture would ever unleash something as horrific as an atomic bomb on anyone. The US is the only culture that has.
1
I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Srinagar. I came to the United States right after my family was thrown out of their homes by Islamic terrorists trained by Pakistan in the pretext of the freedom for Kashmiris. The majority community of Kashmiri Sunni's ran roughshod over every minority of my state of Jammu and Kashmir. The migration of the minority was slowly draining J&K of talent, ideas, and tolerance from 1947 which became a torrent of ethnic cleansing of my community of Kashmiri Pandits by 1990. The radical islam pushed by USA through Pakistan in order to defeat Soviet Union in Afganistan has led to present Kashmir crisis. The arms and training of Islamic Mujhadeen were turned by Pakistan towards Kashmir. The Kashmiri population has been completely radicalized by The Pakistani propaganda. Every sane person in the world should be thankful to Modi for not letting my Kashmir to become the next ISIS. Imran Khan doers not understand the history of Pakistan. The obsession with Kashmir has led to penury of every Pakistani. The article 370 was a mirage which gave false hopes to everybody and needed to go. I know Modi has lot of work to do. I implore everybody in the world to give space and support to Modi government. India does not want bloodshed at any cost whether it is of Indians, Pakistanis or Kashmiris.
28
Wow, what a sweet reason voice of reason Mr. Khan is turning out to be!
It’s great to see so many folks from Pakistan standing up for minorities in India. Perhaps the Govt of Pakistan, a freedom loving liberal democracy, is going to champion the plight of Kashmiri Pandits next, respect the UN charter and hold a referendum in parts of Kashmir it controls including the parts gifted away to China, and provide the right of self determination to Baluchistan. Of course, Pakistan Military and all powerful ISIS are going to leave poor Afghanistan alone. I can also foresee Mr. Khan asserting his moral superiority and gently cajoling all weather friend, China, to improve treatment of Ughurs and Tibetans.
Thank you New York Times for providing a diversity of opinion on Kashmir where almost all opinions are against India. Mr. Modi is invariably referred to as “Hindu Nationalist” whereas no similar opprobrium is afforded to Mr. Khan and other world leaders democratically elected or not.
Mr. Modi has provided clean governance to Indians starved of good governance and was re-elected on a manifesto which included removing Article 370 which was always a temporary provision of the Indian Constitution. It’s time for Pakistan to move beyond its Kashmir fixation. Threatening India with nuclear war may play well in the pages of NYT and his home country but is just empty rhetoric.
20
Mr. Khan, please read the history of the conflict fully. The Pakistan military has supported anti India activities through terrorist groups in Kashmir and elsewhere in India. THis started immediately after the partition. Face the truth before you criticize India. Clean your house first.
4
Well-done NYT for publishing this!
Mr. Khan is right. This is an urgent matter that demands the world’s attention given the ‘nuclear’ stakes here.
Time to put the diplomatic and negotiating caps on to solve this crisis once and for all.
If the orange’ and the ‘green men’ of the two Irelands could sign a truce then so can the ‘orange, saffron loving Indians and the green wearing Pakistanis of the subcontinent.
1
Mr. PM has written something which word to take action against Illegal annexation. After going through article one thing i realized Mr. Imran Khan is man of Peace.
A well-written and reasoned piece by Mr. Khan and a well-‘timed’ one by the Times.
Bias and hatred runs deep even here, judging by the comments.
Bottom line is Kashmir has been under draconian Indian control for the past month, which has only been exacerbated by the illegal occupation, subjugation, rape and torture of a people, all in defiance of the UN Resolutions on the right of self-determination for the besieged people of Kashmir that continues unabated for the past 72 years.
While one side (Pakistan) manages it as an autonomous territory with its own Pres. and PM, the difference on the other side couldn’t be starker. Nearly a million troops, security check points galore, youth tortured and literally blinded (by pellet guns or live ammo) , men harassed and killed and women raped and disappeared by the Indian forces, not to mention the economic toll on these hapless people.
Of course, the locals rebel against such authoritarian measures that deprive them of their sanity and dignity on a daily basis.
And now their autonomy has been taken away without any warning or consultation by the central government or even their own Kashmiri Legislature, primarily to change the demographics of the only ‘Muslim majority’ state in India following the re-election of RSS supremo, Modi, and his henchmen—all accused of actual violence, instigating communal violence in Gujarat or elsewhere in their respective states.
Now’s not the time for politics but for Peace thru Plebiscite.
4
What is important for international community to understand is that Indians wanted kashmir not for love of kashmiri people but for its land. they thought if they could have kashmir, they can stop water flow to Pakistan and kill millions of people. This dream started right after division in 1947, still linger on in nuclear age. The dream to kill 200 million people by stopping water and eliminating the world 6th largest country. This is the root of indian ambition towards kashmir.
1
I wish there was some way that Barak Obama could be mediator in this crisis. Precedent may be
Theodore Roosevelt's role in the peace settlement ending the Russo-Japanese war.
@SomeGuy
Obama tried, listened to either side. He became quiet after understanding the complexity of the issue and Indian position and attended the Indian Republic Day parade as their Chief Guest.
Most of what PM Khan says is right but it is hard to hear his critics when we know that Pakistan is a Muslim-state and increasingly hardline. We know Hindus and Christians are killed in Pakistan. And we know militant groups have lots of power. So clean your own house first.
3
Pakistan is a military dicatorship that is America's enemy. It is also the enemy of some of our other enemies. Imran Khan has no control over Pakistan's military and its security bureau, the ISI. India is mostly a friend with a bouyant economy well connected to the U.S. economy, especially in plant engineering design and computer technology. Unfortunately, India remains a slave state, there are 14 - 18 million slaves in India today.
3
Golly. Looking at a map, I see the longest border between Kashmir and it neighbors is its border with....(wait for it)....
China.
So how does the People's Republic play into all this?
Just waiting for Pakistan and India beat each other up, then roll over both sides?
I understand NYT publishes "Opinions" but it's frankly quite sad that it chooses to lend a platform to such a collection of false statements and plain hypocrisy. Pakistan often likes to raise the question of the UN Security Council. For this, please refer to Dr. Christine Fair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYmMikj_jLI (starting at 0:40), who provides a fairly concise description of the absurdity of Pakistan's claims. With this legal basis in place, India is well within its rights to change the jurisprudence of one of its federal territories. Foreign intervention or Mr. Trump's/American opinion (as some readers offer) is not required. Moving beyond the legal basis however, it's simply disgusting how cavalier Mr. Khan and Pakistan is of it's own role in fomenting unrest in Kashmir. Since 1989 and the beginning of the militant jihad in Kashmir, fed by Pakistan, countless thousands have died or been injured, and the so-called ethnic cleansing Mr. Khan opines about was sadly visited upon the Kashmiri Pandit community. Instead of starting from a place of contrition, Mr. Khan offers veiled threats of a direct military confrontation! Frankly, he has no business in the matter whatsoever. It is a shame NYT offers this platform to such obvious threats of violence.
9
While I so want to believe that he is being honest, and the talk about this being a new Pakistan are true; Pakistan has stabbed us(and Afghanistan, and the US) in the back so many times, that its hard to believe him. We all want peace. And I abhor Modi's nationalist ideology, but it would take a lot more effort on Pakistan's part to be taken seriously when they claim the moral high ground.
4
A desperate attempt by the selectedb PM of a bankrupt nation , under the clutches of IMF and FATf. trying his best to distract his domestic audience.
Remember where did OBL live his last 10 years.
7
Here is a partial assessment of the situation;
a) Simla agreement calls for resolution of all disputes (including Kashmir) by bilateral discussions or any other means 'mutually agreed upon' by the two states. It also enjoins/prohibits the two states from making unilateral changes in status quo. By revoking Article 370 & 35(a) India has violated the treaty and therefore stands in abeyance of International law. Furthermore, revocation of these articles also violates the treaty of accession signed with Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir which called for exclusive rights of indigenous population of the princely state.
b) India has resorted to human rights abuse in the region. IOK is right now the most heavily militarized region in the world. Recently credible international institutions such as UNHCR and Amnesty International along with international media (BBC) have testified the human rights abuse committed by Indian security forces.
c) Valley has been under curfew for the past 20 days. Thousands of people have been incarcerated. Political leaders (Mehbooba Mufti & Omar Abdullah to name a few) are under house arrest. Even opposition leaders from India's parliament were not allowed to visit the valley and returned from the airport.
World largest democracy has brutally suppressed opposition, committed crimes against its own people and violated international law. This is no more related to Pakistan. India stands in violation of the very essence of democratic and international norms.
1
Please...what is the "world" supposed to do?
Do we ignore Ukraine, Hong Kong, Yemen, the continual assault on the people of Afghanistan by Islamic terrorists, China's oppression of Muslims, Cuba's horrible record on human rights? How about the tragedies that unfold in Mexico every day because the corrupt government gets paid by drug dealers and human traffickers? What about California's failure to help homeless and mental health issues? Sad to say... the line is long.
3
Well articulated and clear message, unfortunately the world is governed by crazy supremacists -including Mr Modi- that continue to win elections by playing to the worst instincts of the less educated. I have little hope that the new world order created by the current occupant of the white house will do anything to right the wrong in India, or for that matter in China, Myanmar or elsewhere where minorities are prosecuted for their religion or ethnicity, you just have To look at the pictures of children in cages on our southern borders.
It is of note though that the first countries to meet with Mr Modi after this blatant attack on defenseless Kashmiris were United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the two Arab and muslim countries conferred on him the highest civilian award.
A very well crafted piece of writing. Based on facts, history and logic. If anyone disagrees, he/she can visit the land of Jammu and Kashmir, if allowed by the authorities in India.
1
The US government needs to 'Do More' to help solve the Kashmir problem.It can and should help turn a 'no win' situation into a 'win win' one for the sake of world peace.
2
@Shahid Hayat Your pleas might be worth listening to if Pakistan hadn't spent years hiding Osama bin Laden from justice. In light of that, why should the US invest 1 minute in helping Pakistan? For what?
You started with “I stated we wanted peace with India and if it took one step forward, we would take two steps.” If is a funny word. Here’s an example; IF you wanted peace they why didn’t YOU take that “First one step forward”? Religion takes the form of hate as demonstrated by so many suicide bombers or military orders to kill so many innocent people. And you blindly and hurtfully dare to ask for proof about the suicidal bomber? Your understanding of the “Final solution” should be enough to educate you that religion is a very bad thing. Indeed the attacks on all religion is more than enough proof. If you believe “if the world does nothing to stop the Indian assault on Kashmir and its people, two nuclear-armed states will get ever closer to a direct military confrontation.” Then isn’t it your responsibility to end the threat? Why is your religious battles the worlds problem? No sir stop looking for excuses to blame others for your country’s short comings. This is your bed, make it well. If nothing else comes of this at least the world will finally find out if MAD really works. I personally think it does.
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we stand with our Prime minister and our Kashmiri brothers and we stand till our last breath.
@Muhammad usman
We understand you and your countrymens emotions mr usman. But the world and Kashmir will benefit from cooler heads and reaching out to try, as difficult as it may be to do, to at least try to reopen dialogue on what has the potential to be a disastrous situation becoming much worse.
Pakistan is the biggest disruptor of peace in the region.They waged 4 wars on India.They trained and sent thousands of terrorists trying to destabilize both India and Afghanistan.Their citizens in Baluchistan are suppressed with blatant human rights violations.His own ministers and army chiefs are threatening to destroy India and wipe all “Hindus”.Don’t believe Imran Khan’s crocodile tears.He is a mere puppet of all powerful Pakistan Having said that, we cant let Kashmiri’s and for that matter any humans to be deprived of their basic rights.I hope peace and calm prevails.
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Why is the world so unsympathetic?
There is pure brutality going on in Kashmir under the banner of hate, ethnic cleansing, and greed.
We are all quiet, maybe secretly glad that it’s not us. I have news for you..to all the nations in the world who are allowing injustice and oppression for the sake of their agendas and interests...this will not end in Kashmir.
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India has illegally annexed the State of Kashmir against the will of people of Kashmir. Their are UN resolutions for holding plebiscite in Kashmir. The First PM of India has several times undertook and promised to give the choice to the people of Kashmir but these promises have never been fulfilled by India for the last 70 years.
Their intentions are bad of Kashmir therefore kept using excuse such as "first stop terrorist camps from Kashmir".
One thing is clear they can get hold on Kashmir for some more period but they will never be able to digest Kashmir.
It is actually a very hard nut to crack for them.
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No doubt, Mr PM Imran Khan made various efforts for peace with India. Kashmir is disputed territory occupied by India now is under bloodshed of Modi. Being democratic people of Pakistan we are making efforts for peace talk with India just for Kashmiris other Pakistan knows how to fight and how to protect right of self determination.
Modi is worst PM in the history of India; he is doing politics on the dead bodies of Kashmiris. Pakistan will fight for Kashmiris till IOK independence. Now PM writes his opinion at international forum just to warn India and Modi's nefarious designs. People who have sense of human being they will know why PM writes this letter on NY Times
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Mr. Khan has nothing at all to say about the expulsion of Kashmiri Hindus from their homes and the reign of terror that they experienced. They are still living in miserable condition on the outskirts of Jammu and in and around Delhi area. He has nothing to say about the terrorist attacks launched into the valley by his army. Nothing at all to say Pakistan's duplicity.
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Too many people in that part of the world anyway.
The people of Kashmir have been suffering for last 70 years. The whole area looks like a big prison. Food and medicine supplies are inadequate. People are dying. I do no understand and do not care for the politics between Pakistan and India. I feel for the humanity. India can not and should not rule like Apartheid regime. If war starts. it will end with nuclear destruction. I think whole world should pay attention with highest priority. Let Kashmir People be free from India and Pakistan. Enough is enough.
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We have United Nations and we believe all such disputes ought to solve by UN resolutions. People have impression that they are biased, UN must clarify their impression by solving Kashmir Issue that UN resolutions are above ethics, color & religion. 00966509399916
Dear Mr Imran Khan.
It is very hard for India to trust when prime minister of Pakistan asks for dialogue. Mr. Modi with all his flaws, invited former prime minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif for his inauguration. He stopped by in Pakistan for impromptu meeting with Mr. Sharif. Even his predecessor Mr. Vajpayee took a bus diplomacy by visiting Pakistan.
Every time India took a step forward with dialogue, it was rewarded by a major attack. Kargil attack which lead to limited war, Mumbai carnage, multiple attacks in Kashmir (Uri, Pathankot, Pulwama). It is understandable for Indian Government to not to trust Pakistan’s overtures. Had it prosecuted Mumbai mastermind or stopped ISI from providing space to “good” terrorists, there would have some trust. When Turkey requested schools to be closed down, Pakistan didn’t wait for material proof and rounded up everyone and closed down the schools. In India’s case, even with documented evidence and statement my Mumbai attacker, the accused roam free (or intermittently movements restricted).
Pakistan is reacting emotionally rather than legally or logically for the revocation of Article 370. Mr Khan is whipping up national frenzy everyday by using the word Genocide, Nazi and Hitler. He is playing to his domestic audience where Kashmir resonates well because it has been kept alive (Kashmir day etc) by the military.
Coming to kashmir’s restrictions, which were necessary after change, Indian could have softened the blow to ordinary people.
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If the world does nothing to stop the Indian assault on Kashmir and its people, two nuclear-armed states will get ever closer to a direct military confrontation..."
Pakistan and India are two of 9 failed, nuclear armed city-states!
{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons#Statistics_and_force_configuration}
Carl Sagan and associates examined the results of a 'local' nuclear war between these two countries, and found them to be analogous to the Yosemite_Caldera, exploding!
Dr. Sagan went, back and reexamined their data as newer, more comprehensive data became available, and the results were confirmed / found to be MUCH worse!
Well, Imran Khan is very clear in his perspective and it can be clearly seen the way he is interacting on all platforms engaging all mediums and generating awareness internationally as War is not the Solution and it can never be... Flexibility is important for humanity....India should stop the genocide in Kashmir....
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India - Kashmir
China - Hong Kong
Russia - Crimea, Ukraine
US - Iraq, Afghanistan
The world is, indeed, in danger.
1
This is rich, coming from a regime that uses terrorism for strategic depth.
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We are the worst species on the planet.
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Pakistan's Prime Minister is essentially using the bogey of a nuclear war with India as a covert blackmailing tactic to force the world to listen to it.
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“Threat of war under nuclear shadow looms over world again”: says the guy who is regularly threatening to do a nuclear attack on India
"The World Can’t Ignore Kashmir. We Are All in Danger." - says the guy who is the head of a country who has strtegically infilterated radicalization and terrorism into Kashmir
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For a man selected as Prime Minister accusing Modi- who was elected fair and square in his country-to Hitler and his party supporters as Nazis does not fly well in a rational world. Modi and BJP had made it clear in their election manifesto to abrogate Article 370 and parliament passed this with 2/3 majority. Yes, Modi's BJP is nationalist and they are right wing party but not extremists and one need not be hysterical about them being in power. Atrocities have been committed in Kashmir for the past seven decades and the reason mostly due to Pakistan army waging futile wars and then injecting terrorist elements in the valley. Generals like Musharaf and even Imran Khan has admitted to those state sponsored activities in various interviews. There is no right taken away from Kashmiris, they will be citizen of a proud democratic India and they can call themselves proud kashmiris just like I call myself a proud Tamilian. People reading Mr. Khan's article may think he has a good heart and concern for Kashmiris. One need only to examine how Pakistan occupied Kashmir is being exploited by his country. 'Kashmhir banega Pakistan' is a military slogan to keep the army relevant in that country. Hope abrogation of article 370 will make the army take a back seat and let Pakistan thrive as a country without military interventions.
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Mr. Khan, you are not a democratically elected Prime Minister but a puppet of Pakistani Military which captured power almost immediately after it became a free country based on lies and Islamic extremism.
Pakistan constitutionally support medieval war-lord and "Zamindari" system where the socioeconomic elites enjoy almost every privilege, control vast tracts of land, own factories and big businesses, get plum jobs in Govt while the poor Pakistanis are left to poverty in a pathetic condition of almost like slavery and left to religious fundamentalism to get some hope to face that otherwise very hopeless life. That raw emotion in the name of (extremist) Islam is the main force that allow Pakistani elites to exploit its working class people while the elites send their children to UK, USA and other such western countries and enjoy an extravagant lifestyle. Such elites include Pakistani military bosses. Here we need to keep in mind that Pakistani military is among very few armies in the world that control vast swath of Businesses of every kind.
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The core problem between Pakistan is not just Kashmir ... you solve Kashmir issue and you will have one more problem on the cards ... the basic and most important issue between Pakistan and India is lack of understanding the basic problems the region is facing due this tension. Imagine if Pakistan and India are like USA & Canada ... how much money can these both countries save and invest on the people instead .. for education .. for health .. for infrastructure. But people on helm may never opt for peace as this will kill their political advantages .. May Almighty save this region !
Khan has been trying to handle this as responsibly as he can while Modi, part of the Far Right International, clear cuts through everything.
The gauntlet was thrown: we do what we want in Kashmir; you can either start a nuclear war or eat it. And most of India loves it.
And the glaciers haven't even shrunk as much as they inevitably will.
These far-right maniacs all over the world are literally world-destroyers. Yes, I know: they say we are. They're wrong. They must be defeated.
We don't have kids. Do you? If we don't get this country on track and then work in concert with sane parties in other countries to solve our serious problems, then liberal democracy (such as it is) will be further delegitimized.
Perhaps our Brilliant Successful Super Smart Ruling Class could, like, think about these things, and maybe get on board with an FDR like fix -- to the economy, to rising authoritarianism -- so they can keep 90% of their wealth and power instead of either losing it all or collaborating with fascists till they lose it all. Which they will, along with all of the rest of us.
The whole thing: all of human history. It is at risk: our past and our future. Global warming, nuclear war, emergent diseases. You're probably eye-rolling now. You shouldn't be. Go read what scientists and serious policy analysts are saying. Their hair is on fire.
But since we have our own Modi in office here, nothing will be done.
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All we are saying, is Give Peace A Chance
I’m sure that only trump can fix it.
Had it happened what's happening in Kashmir to any one else other than the Muslims, United Nations and all other similar bodies would have reacted way long ago but unfortunately as usual, Muslims are being victimised, their basic human rights have been snatched and as expected the whole world including many shameless Muslim countries have kept the silence.
I'm hoping and praying the better sense will prevail and the world leaders will jump in to resolve this issue as per UN resolutions otherwise be ready to face the consequences.
1
NYT: shame on you for giving a platform to a spokesperson of terrorism. The rage I feel is similar to what I would feel if the head of AQ was invited to visit the British parliament, and leading British newspapers printed AQ's justification for 9/11. Do you not know that Imran represents the army that takes American money to finance the Taliban who kill our soldiers?
Few are aware that after an ill-conceived partition drawn up by an occupying power, Kashmir's Hindu king joined India. Pakistan sent its Afghan recruits (dressed in mufti) - who took over half the land. Indian forces have held the other half since 1947. Pakistani military ethnically cleansed all of occupied Kashmir; we have lived all across the world since then.
Since 1948, Pakistan has imagined that the world will come to its aid, the Islamic world will give them money and arms, and force India to leave the other half (and with luck, destroy itself). This to them, is a settlement.
Now let's come to danger. Those connected to reality will know that Pakistan is an existential threat to the planet (support and nurturing of terrorism, proliferation of nukes, aligned with N. Korea and China).
What Imran wants is all of Kashmir, and a destroyed India. This is not a surmise, Pakistani military has held forth on this publicly.
Write all you want to NYT Imran, as a Kashmiri, I will work tirelessly to ensure you cannot have it.
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PM Khan, the world is NOT going to do anything to stop India. Your friend China is busy thwarting People in HK and harassing Uighurs, your other friend Putin is doing the same when he grabs Ukrain parts, your friends in the UK are busy imploding their own country and finally, President Trump is with his back to his Wall for his re-election campaign. Brazil is busy putting down 'fire in her backyard' while Abe in Japan is busy in settling scores with South Korea. EU - how do we put it delicately: let us just say the EU is preoccupied in their forever project of avoiding the next recession.
So forget about World coming to your help. You can write as many OpEds as you want, as many pleas at UN as you want; that is all going to go the way of Trump's pledges to be an 'adult'; meaning nothing going to happen.
Given that, please do not threaten the World that you will start the Nuke War. I believe Indians also have 'few nukes' and you have few cities to be targeted too. I am sure you know that in 'nuke war' your country is going to get wiped out, does not matter whether Half of India goes or Quarter of India. And then you will go down the History as the 'man who ended Pakistan'.
Try taking away your obsession from Kashmir and focus on well being of rest of Pakistan.
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Three important points to consider. Article 370 is part of Indian constitution and India has every right to modify it. Secondly, the UN promised plebiscite was not held because Pakistan refused to vacate territory it occupied. Thirdly, Kashmir has Muslim majority (60 percent) - it also has Hindus and Buddhists. Why was Mr. Khan quiet when the Muslim's drove the Kashmiri Pundits out of Kashmir in the 1980's ? The king of Kashmir, Mr. Hari Singh, chose to be a part of India in 1949 because Kashmir was attacked by Pakistan. Pakistan conveniently drove all Hindu's out of Pakistan in 1947 while India had a Muslim president. Mr. Khan should spend his time getting Pakistan out of bankruptcy instead of relying on China and gulf states instead of wasting his time writing useless and misleading opinion pieces.
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I hope that Mr. Modi will respond in a positive way to Imran Khan's mild tone and offer of friendship. However, the article itself is inflammatory.
The words "the Indian assault on Kashmir and its people" are themselves not based on evidence and are inflammatory.
Technically, Kashmir is a part of India and therefore any action that the Indian government takes is an internal matter. India should act in the most humane and kind manner possible, but we all know that the New York Times, which hates Modi and Hindus will never acknowledge any of the difficulties which Mr. Modi faces. If the Indian government does show kindness in its actions, that kindness will never appear in the NYT which prefers to present India as an ogre.
The picture itself is revealing of the anti-India prejudice. It seems to show that Zahida Jan is being tortured but in fact it shows "the family of Fayaz Ahmed Mir, a tractor driver who was arrested, consoling his sister, Zahida Jan, earlier this month." In other words, despite the horrid message of the picture, all that has happened is that Mr. Mir has been arrested and his sister is being COMFORTED.
It is obvious that the New York Times has no interest in peace between neighbors. It is far more anti-India than the mild Mr. Imran Khan appears to be.
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Brilliantly summed up...
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Donald Trump will ask his daughter, Ivanka, to solve the problem in Kashmir. After all, she is well known for her clothing line and knows all about the problems with cashmere.
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I am very upset that you chose to give editorial space to Imran Khan the Prime Minister of Pakistan, which is a known terrorist state! The leader of a country like Pakistan which is widely considered a failed state and a hotbed of terrorism, lecturing anyone of good morals and sound judgment is ironic. Do not forget that Pakistan as a country and its government machinery has been a menace and a major sponsor of terrorism for a very long time. Do note, that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan when eventually neutralized and living within a mile of a major military asset of that country. Giving space to a morally and economically bankrupt country and its leader to broadcast these “fake” beliefs to the rest of the world is appalling!
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So what exactly does the Prim Minister of Pakistan do? Take orders from their military, methinks.
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Thank you for clearly explicating the situation. You are right; we are all in danger.
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I am shocked on major new media channels are muted on this brutal Killings and Human Right violations. Shame on them!
Very little response is officially received from India on continued efforts of PM Imran Khan. We earlier thought it was Indian election but now it seems, this is New Indian which will be governed and administrated by religious fanatics and Nazi-mindset followers, which is very dangerous for secular India and sub-continent.
We are talking about nuclear states and one country now is unfortunately ruled by a leader who became PM of India on slogan of hate, segregation and crime committed against minorities. Both countries instead of focusing on bigger and pressing issues like poverty, unemployment, healthcare and population growth, and invest its resources there - which is what Government in Pakistan is trying as this is why ‘youth’ voted for Imran Khan’s party (PTI)... not for the reasons why unfortunately BJP was elected in India.
We in Pakistan want our government to focus on its internal issues but it seems current Indian government is trying hard to push Pakistan into confrontation both militarily and economically. Let’s not forget, Pakistan Government can’t back down from its claim of Kashmir for obvious reasons.
It seems, the world is unable to access the gravity of the issue which might move from war-of-words to short-duration military confrontation, where both sides trying to prove that they won the battle, opt for missile attack which will have devastating consequences.
Let’s hope both democratic countries give people of Kashmir voice to decide their future.
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The Prime Minister says "Our Air Force brought down an Indian plane and captured the pilot", but for long the Military and PM claimed that 2 planes were shot down. Is he back tracking now?
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Imran Khan put his heart out in this letter. Pakistani people and its leadership are all for peace. And so was pre-Modi India. Post 2014, Gandhi-assassin lovers of BJP and RSS have stalled the progress towards peace in South Asia.
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Not one word in the article on the terrorism sponsored by the Pakistan establishment over the decades.
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Goebbels once said: 'Accuse your enemies of doing what you are doing while you are doing it to spark confusion'
Mr Khan who is a protege of the Pakistani military has an 'interesting' record on the domestic front locking up local leaders without trial without any hint of opposition. He has ratcheted up rhetoric about fascism and Hitler invoking Godwin's Law which the NYTimes seems to have lapped up nicely.
The recent coverage by the NYTimes didn't seem to mention that the 'dissidents' and the valley where 'lockdown' has been imposed openly flew flags of Al Quaeda and ISIS? So do the people writing here ostensible defending 'liberal values' stand for this kind of 'freedom'. A quick perusal without much research shows a demographic shift was effected when the Pakistani military send militants killing thousands of Hindus starting 1990s. I haven't seen a single line about that in any of the reports.
The Modi government like any government is flawed. However, this decision was taken after being debated by the opposition and government alike in Parliament (quite a few opposed), but the majority agreed that it was time to move on and curb all forms of militancy once and for all. Kashmiris today don't get a lot of rights which will be available once the curfew lifts.
Pakistan being the arbiter of human rights in a territory it doesn't control while making veiled threats about a nuclear catastrophe is being allowed to run on this forum. How ironic.
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Let's resolve Kashmir according to the will of Kashmiri people. Why this simple solution is not acceptable to New Dehli? rest of all, humanity must be above everything, trade, money, land.
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Raise your hand if you are shocked that ancient grudges kept alive by religious fanaticism are the root cause of all the trouble.
Imran Khan is absolutely spot on about Modi's fascist credo. Modi's party, the BJP, has inherited its world view from its progenitor, the RSS, which was a Hindu extremist organization deriving its philosophy from Hitler and Mussolini whom they idolized as the type of 'strongman' leader that an independent and Hindu majority India needed to keep minorities in their place.
Modi should not be given a pass over the brutalities in Kashmir just because of India's economic heft. Blinding of demonstrators by pellet guns fired by the Indian army, mass incarceration, torture and widespread rape are the norm there. This is the same person who presided over the pogrom in Gujarat as its chief minister in 2002 in which over 2000 Muslims were murdered and many more displaced from their homes.
Khan has tried to extend a hand of conciliation to Modi which has been rejected on spurious grounds. Kashmir was never and will never be an internal issue for India only. For one the Kashmiri people would disagree on India's claim.
The world may well rue its indifference to the Kashmir dispute since leaders like Modi and his ilk understand mainly the language of strength. Note how he brags about his 56 inch chest which is overcompensation for something that only psychiatrists would be better able to explain.
Finally there is a lot of 'whataboutism' in readers comments to the NYT. Please don't confuse a human rights issue with Pakistan's own political failings.
PM Imran Khan has clearly outlined what's at stake here. At what point does the world intervene and stop this genocide and land grab by these Indians ? Clearly, they are not interested in peace despite repeated overtures by the PM. I challenge any Modi sympathizer to find fault or disclaim anything stated by the PM in this excellent piece for the NYT.
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Weekly Diaries for two leaders for week of Aug 26, 2019
Narendra Modi
- Attended G7 summit
- Met with President Trump, President Macron, PM Boris Johnson and other world Leaders
- Visited UAE where I was awarded their highest civilian owner
Imran Khan
- Composed NYT article
- Met with my cabinet to figure out how we can make more noise on Kashmir
- Met with the Army generals to get my instructions for next week
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Dear Imran,
Your intentions are good. However, from Indian perspective, we see three institutions running your country. One is the elected government of which you now are the chief. Then there is the military that is the defacto government of Pakistan. Under their control lies the militants department who get unleashed into neighboring countries and are willing to die and go to heaven. Your military has its own objectives. Yours is the only nation where your military owns your nation. Your elected government is the face it projects to the outside world in order to get money and weapons. After that it is all business as usual.
All India has done is to remove extra privileges that Kashmiris got. Their fundamental rights are now equal to that of all other citizens of the country. Because of the extra privileges, Kashmir issue could not be put to bed. Now things can change and from the Indian standpoint, it has to be in India's favor and not Pakistan's.
Kashmir is under curfew now because of past violent history. It has been turned into a war zone by the militants unleashed by your country since 1989. It will take some time to weed out all those elements and then Kashmir will return to normalcy.
Kindly shed your croc tears for Uighur Muslims in China, Kurdish Muslims in Iraq and Turkey, Yemeni Muslims and Rohingyas. We do not see that passion in you for these fellow Muslims. India has not done any of what your military did in East Pakistan in 1970.
Regards
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Genocide by Indian army in Kashmir need to be stopped by UN and UN missions need to be sent immediately. Further silence will mean humanity is dissipating. The only solution is plebiscite.
Imran khan is most chutiya neta in this world. He even don't know about the History and geography of India and world.
He said he is tipu sultan . Chutiya don't know he was Indian when Pakistan was not born. All the pakistani r terrorist even Cambridge going student Rahmat Ali was Jihadi. They are always trying to make country on the basis of Religion. Jinna get success. But they're not able to make Bangladeshi jihadi.
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To me, great visionary leader Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed about all the efforts & offers to strengthen bilateral relation with India at PM level & Foreign Minister level as well. On the contrary, PM Modi replied him not only harshly but revoked article 370 is against Simla agreement & proposed UN resolution to settle Kashmir's burning issue since 1947. Ever since dominate Muslim population of IOK are being victimized & genocide badly by RSS & Indian army.
The world should take the Kashmir issue seriously to stop bloodshed for last 25 days immediately. UN, Red Cross, International human rights must come forward & visit IOK to watch the actual position to put an end to war imposes on innocent people of Kashmir. Otherwise, IK's warning will turn out into action against the butcher Modi.
As the philosopher said, all human affairs end with people breaking each other's head open.
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Imran Khan conveniently ignores peace gestures made by Modi and his friendly relationship with Nawaz Sheriff and how the military and ISI buried it conveniently.
Imran Khan conveniently ignores the dastardly killings, rapes and throwing out thousands of Kashmiri Pandits by the Kashmiri terrorists aided and trained by Pakistan long back.
Imran Khan conveniently omits their terrorist acts not only in Kashmir but also in other parts of India right from March 1993.
Is Imran Khan capable of handling all matters independently just like Modi does ?
Pakistan is formed in 1947 on the basis of religion. However it has failed completely uniting its people. The very fact that Bengali Muslims were tormented by Punjabi Muslims and that a separate country Bangladesh had to be formed in 1971 is proof enough. If Islam is that good, why there is so much income inequality and corruption there ?
Imran Khan conveniently ignores the plight of minorities there, who are marginalised in these 72 years since Independence.
Imran Khan conveniently ignores the fact that India has 200 million Muslim population, second largest in the world and Kashmiri Muslims form only small part.
Imran Khan conveniently ignores the fact that Jammu has Hindu majority whereas Ladakh has Buddhist majority.
Imran Khan has made a veiled threat as if India doesn’t know how to give back.
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Apparently "diversity" doesn't work all that well in some parts of the world. The partition of India has never been settled and looks like it never will. Like Israel and parts of the old Soviet Union and the balkans and...well, you get it. Now that the nuclear cat is out of the bag, it's far too late to just let them go at it. Nationalism, religious fevor, over population and decades of hatred have combined like they have in so many places to a hair trigger situation. The very best we can do is try to keep it from going nuclear.
Kashmir, the land of Himalayas are an integral part of India and Hinduism culturally, ethnically and historically. The land of Kashmir predates the birth of Pakistan.
Unfortunately due to its geographic location, it has to bare the brunt of many islamic invasions from India's west which lead to genocide of Hindus on multiple instances.
Finally, the Rajah of Kashmir, a Hindu was able to hold his throne with the support of British. When Brits left, Rajah chose to remain independent despite the historic events which suggest that is not a best option. India respected his decision but Pakistan violated the agreement and sent its proxy forces to occupy kashmir. History repeats.
The kingdom of Kashmir has 3 parts to it. The muslim majority kashmir valley, Hindu major Jammu and Buddhist Ladakh. But never do we hear the voices of Jammu and Ladakh people in mainstream media.
In 1980s Half a million Hindu minorities of Kashmir valley were driven out by kashmiri muslims with the help of islamic militants sponsored by Pakistan. A few thousands were murdered, raped. Announcements of "Convert to Islam or Die" reverberated from mosques. But none of these are point of discussion in intl press.
India cant afford another genocide of kashmiri minorities and definitely dont want to part its most sacred land for another religious division to satisfy the lust of islamic zealots. One Pakistan is enough.
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For centuries before Pakistan was formed or even the British ruled the subcontinent, non-Muslims such as Hindus and Buddhist were bullied, threatened and ethnically cleansed. Convert, leave or die were the only options for these people. And now Pakistan wants a plebiscite. Next step towards accomplishing Ghazwa -E-Hind
Pakistan’s claims to Kashmir are based only on its Muslim population. In the meantime within Pakistan Hindu population has been decimated after it’s formation in 1947
5
The problem with religion based terrorism is evident in this vitriol and its pretty shocking that NYT would actually give sanction to the PM of a country alleging that the PM of a another country which has more muslims of muslim related atrocities . The truth is of course diametrically opposed to the insinuations.
The very simple truth is that the creation of a terrorist Islamic State within any country is never a good thing. That is exactly what was happening and a peace keeping force was sent in.
They did not wear blue arm bands and berets to be media and PR winners, but went in to do their job. Crowd control against people attacking with stones and bottle bombs has to be defused with tear gas and push backs. This is not Louisiana, its Asia and the scenarios are very different. Everything is not perfect but the vitriol from the PM of a failed banana republic with a Sharia Law is unwarranted and unwelcome. Simply put - mind your own country , it economy and the human rights before distracting your people from the realities with war mongering. Nobody wants your inputs, not even the 173 million muslims who call themselves proud Indians.
5
This is a well written article by Mr. Khan explaining his side of an under-reported important story. I would like to also see articles written by someone presenting the views of those from India and Kashmir.
Kashmir was never a part of Pakistan or India.
It should have been a part of Pakistan after the partition because of the muslim majority.
India has no shame in this matter. They have killed over 100000 kashmiris in the last 70 years and are willing to commit genocide. Pakistanis & Imran Khan will not let that happen. WE ARE WITH KASHMIR. EITHER WE WILL LIBERATE KASHMIR OR DIE TRYING. PAKISTAN IS WITH KASHMIR TILL THE LAST BULLET IS FIRED. PERIOD.
Ultimately, this is a fight over fresh water. Pakistan, India, and China all need it. All of them face shortages. And Kashmir has it. At least some of it.
So someone like Modi can take advantage of the fear of his countrypersons to wage a xenophobic campaign to attain power. And someone like Jinping can make himself president for life.
The people are afraid. That fear is being driven by global warming, the water crisis it's creating (melting glaciers, etc.), and other environment degradation. It will get worse before it gets better (if, in fact, it ever gets better).
Mr Khan celebrated his one year on office just last week. The Kashmir conflict is 72 years old. It's worth mentioning that while he goes all the way back to 1939 to analyze Mr. Modi's mind, he did not include a single word about the deeds of non-state actors deployed by Pakistan to foment violence in Kashmir for close to 20 years to root out non-Muslims from Kashmir.
Also, Mr. Khan failed to mention that Pakistan appropriated most of Pakistani Kashmir as a union territory in 1970's which India is doing only now. Also, about the free will of Kashmiris he talks about, no political party is allowed in Pakistani Kashmir unless it avows Pakistani Kashmir being part of Pakistan.
While articulate, his article excludes unsavory parts. World knows a lot more about Kashmir's history than what Mr. Khan would like to believe. It is confirmed by the unwillingness of a single Muslim country in the whole world to stand next to him on Kashmir. None.
6
Mr Khan does a great job of pointing all the reasons why Kashmir shouldn't be part of India. He says nothing on why Kashmir would be better off on its own or as part of Pakistan. He knows all too well that he really doesn't have an offer to make. Kashmiris deserve freedom from any form of tyranny, however, they also need to realize that being a landlocked country between three nuclear powers (India, China and Pakistan) doesn't give them much leverage at all. They need to decide which country will benefit their people the most in terms of freedom, peace, trade and economic wealth.
Mr. Khan does not speak for entire Pakistan. As the case has been, their army and intelligence services are not under civilian leadership's control. Regardless of Mr. Khan's good intentions, the Pakistan army and intelligence will pursue their own agenda. Discussions will only go so far, because there is lack of agreement even within Pakistan.
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@Harsh this is utter rubbish. This might be true for previous civilian leaderships but this is the first time both the government and the army are on the same page in all matters, most importantly, matters of security and foreign policy. An easy example is the frequency of meetings between the two institutes: It's easily the highest compared to all previous governments.
21
@Furqan That means Imran is aligned with the army, and not necessarily the other way around.
24
@Furqan
A remarkable evolution of the society and its governance structures in matter of what - few months ! Can only happen in the land of the "pure".
6
You are quite correct - Kashmir is a tinder box filled with nuclear weapons and populated by people who hate each other for really stupid reasons. The animas goes back centuries, as does that in the Balkans, East Asia, Africa and virtually all non-homogeneous civilizations.
It’s simply wrong!
Neither India nor Pakistan are “garden spots” for the average citizen. Their politics, as is ours, is controlled and amplified by the wealthy and power hungry, much to the deficit of the people. Gandhi understood this quite well, but he and his movement are no longer here to lead and inspire.
All it would take to set off a WORLD-WIDE NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST would be for one irate commander of a nuclear weapon to use it. The rest would be automatic and existential, spreading amongst allies like Ebola. WE sit right in the middle of this since we have alliances with both parties. WE are in ultimate danger because our putative Commander-in-Chief is an ignorant egotistical sociopath with absolutely no comprehension of either the location of Kashmir or ability to deal with a crisis, whether he created it or not.
This is in addition to China, NK, Israel/Iran/Syria and Russia. Trump is focused on his phone and TV while the world burns.
1
The country whose only claim to fame is terrorism is talking about peace!
Their terrorists keep killing Kashmiri civilians with impunity
I am not in favor of state high handedness but Pakistan has to accept that Kashmir decided to be with India and is an integra part of India. Period.
Nytimes has always done biased reporting in India-Pakistan matters. I never read column by Indians on India-Pakistan conflicts.
7
I find it terribly ironic that India and Pakistan are armed to the teeth with nukes pointed at each other and no one cares. Yet everyone freaks out over the fact that Israel has had nukes for decades. What a sick double standard.
The western world needs to pay focused attention to the radicalization of India. Hindu mobs wearing RSS orange regularly beat or kill Muslims, Christians & Dalits (so called low caste members of their own faith) for a myriad of reasons. While our press portrays India as a shining example of a democracy the BJP led RSS inspired government of India has aggressively curbed basic freedoms. The Indian mainstream press has become a megaphone for the BJP Nationalist ideology which aspires to move India towards being a Hindu supremacist State. With fear & a compliant media as weapons minorities in India have been silenced in the body politic. Anyone that dares question the nationalist ideology & its ugly manifestations is silenced by being accused of being a Pakistani agent.
We need to remember history. Hitler was elected by the German people but then embarked on a strategy to silence opposition & usurping the German democracy by “parliamentary” actions. We then know what followed: tens of millions of people killed and continents destroyed. Modi’s actions in Kashmir, Gujarat & Assam are but a prelude to the wider RSS agenda of “purification” of Hindustan ( land of Hindus).
Imran Khan & his efforts to resolve the crisis in Kashmir peacefully must be supported by concrete actions by the US & the other leading world powers. If this issue is left to fester a miscalculation by either side could lead to a devastating nuclear exchange resulting in death & destruction of the modern world.
3
Just split Kashmir up as it is to India and Pakistan formally and be done with this idiotic 70 year conflict over a mostly worthless plot of land. If these two countries go to nuclear war over this meaningless dispute then frankly they deserve what they get.
Prime minister of a country with Official Name "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" is teaching the world the values of secularism. Where any Non-Muslim is constitutionally barred from reaching to the top executive position because it's reserved for Muslim. Where Anti-semitism is state sponsored to the extent, it's mentioned on passport that invalid for Israel. Where Osama was found, Where Alqaeda #2 still enjoys his life. Anti American rallies draw half a million in crowds. This man who said "Allah" dozen times in his address to the nation after being elected tells other countries to be secular. Where lahore was 40% Hindu in 1931 and now few hundred thousands are all left of the hindu genocide. Hindu girls being abducted and married to muslims kidnappers after forced conversion in Sindh.
8
A very powerful & lucid account of what is transpiring in the region & in particular Kashmir. Its a lazy & biased argument to resort to terrorism, especially as a stick to beat muslims with its time worn & tired.
Lets look beyond this narrative & examine the facts.
The millitary siege has now entered its 26th day, leading to a severe shortage of food, clean water & medicine
At least 152 people have been hurt by teargas and pellets (Reuters)
At least 4,000 people have been detained by security and government forces (AFP)
This in addition to;
Human Rights Watch reported that 50,000 people were killed in Kashmir from 1989 to 2006
The Kashmir State Human Rights Commission has evidence of 2,730 bodies buried in 40 mass graves, it reported
over 8000 disappearances.
The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society said that by 2016, there were over 70,000 killings, most by Indian forces
Amnesty International reports that disappearances, torture and rape by Indian Army units against Kashmiri Muslims are common
Genocide Watch has already issued a ‘Genocide Alert’, the first step in three of an escalation process leading to a full-blown genocide.
The facts don't lie, whither you choose to take notice of them or not is another matter altogether.
2
NY times
I respect you publishing Mr.Khans opinion. This is democracy like India not a theocratic state like Pakistan. As a balanced newspaper, you should also publish a counterpoint from Indian side without editing. There is another side to this
9
There is no doubt that Prime Minister Imran Khan has put a sincere effort to resolve the long standing issue between the two countries but they were taken as an appeasement by Modi Govt.
If the world continue to remain silent on emerging extremism and hindu radicalisation in India, evidently all the world leader will be responsible for giving birth to another Hitler in Asia.
Sadly, we never learn from history :(
1
“Mr. Modi’s guru wrote admiringly about the Final Solution in “We, Our Nationhood Defined,” his 1939 book: “To keep up the purity of the race and its culture, Germany shocked the world by her purging the country of the Semitic Races — the Jews. National pride at its highest has been manifested here. Germany has also shown how well-nigh impossible it is for races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindustan for us to learn and profit by.””
Is PM Modi imposing ‘Final Solution’ on the Muslims in the Valley?
1
No, just pure fear mongering by Pakistan to trigger the western world into acting against India by comparing it to Nazism.
Pakistan created a ‘“problem” in Kashmir that by all legal rights belongs to India as much as Baluchistan belongs to Pakistan. So it’s rather rich that Imran Khan threatens India over the blood and conflict it has sowed in Kashmir, a strategically vital region for India since 1947. Take your IMF handout and hang your head in shame Mr Khan!
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Very well-written Khan sb. You briefly yet beautifully explained the fascism being faced by India.
2
A thought provoking opinion put forward in front of the world community by Pakistani prime Minister. We should rise against the oppression going on in Indian occupied Kashmir for last 70 years and speak against the latest series of atrocities by Indian forces against 80 million innocent civilians, which are under curfew for last 26 days now without basic necessities. The international conscience should react to naked violation of human rights by Modi Government against Muslims, Dalits and Christians for the sake of completion of their fascist agenda and religious ideology of Hindutva. Please raise your voice before the massacre begins in Kashmir.
1
"It is imperative that the international community think beyond trade and business advantages."
Indeed it is, but until the Current Occupant of the White House is kicked out in November of 2020, this particular corner of the international community is incapable of thinking at all.
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@Vesuviano United States should stop acting like a Big Brother to rest of the world. Two sovereign countries can address their issues bilaterally. US should try to address its own problems such as falling standards of living, anti semitic politicians, increasing homelessness, gun violence.
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@William
I don't see it as an "either/or" situation, though I agree we have significant problems to address here at home.
In any event, until Trump and his wrecking crew are kicked out, nothing will get addressed either within or outside our borders.
Natch, the Pakistan's politicos are seeking American assistance for a problem that is as old as the two wars that have been fought between India and Pakistan, over Kashmir, since the separation of the two states. Apart from the damage to themselves, this local conflict, while having the potential of a larger conflagration - always the case - has not had a deleterious effect on the West. Seems off that Pakistan is seeking American help when, over the years, it has offered scant assistance in eliminating the Taliban's threat to American soldiery fighting in Afghanistan. Time to hang up the phone (we can't hear you) until a quid pro quo is in the offing.
2
Natch, the Pakistan's politicos are seeking American assistance for a problem that is as old as the two wars that have been fought between India and Pakistan, over Kashmir, since the separation of the two states. Apart from the damage to themselves, this local conflict, while having the potential of a larger conflagration - always the case - has not had a deleterious effect on the West. Seems off that Pakistan is seeking American help when, over the years, it has offered scant assistance in eliminating the Taliban's threat to American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. Time to hang up the phone (we can't hear you) until a quid pro quo is in the offing.
2
If Mr Khan wants to regurgitate history - he should go into the history of origins of Kashmir conflict. If the newly born state of Pakistan in 1947 had NOT then ENCOURAGED tribes from their side of territory, to attack Kashmir - which was an independent state at the time of partition we would not be here. The marauders from Pakistan forced Maharajah Hari Singh's the then Hindu ruler's hands to reach out to India for support. This is the genesis of Kashmir issue not abrogation of article 370. The whole nation even today is bound not by any cohesive concept of nationhood, but hate - hate for Hindus and India.
It is time for Pakistani leaders both civilian and military to lead and run their country based upon nationhood and statehood not based upon hatred of other religions and countries
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@Shiv, When you mention that you should also mention that Maharaja Hari Singh offered 'Stand still' agreement which was accepted by Pakistan but unfortunately rejected by India.... and we would not be here!
@Syed
Be that as it may, it is only natural that agressor will always want a status quo after defeat, to save face. India did only the right thing - they did not want their army operating on a Independent l/ foreign land forever. There was no gurantee that Pakistan would not resend their armies/ intruders again. which history has proven time and again.
Does Imran Khan know the answer to the basic question whether he or Pakistan military has access to nuclear weapons? This nuclear thing may be a bluff. After 9/11 'W' most likely took away the keys to the Pakistan nuclear weapons as a precondition for not attacking Pakistan; the source for 9/11. There is groundswell of support in India for abrogation of article 370, as it has been an opportunity for Pakistan to wage a proxy war in India and destroy Kashmir.
3
Hinduvata might be a malignant ideology, Pakistani military/ISI puppetmastery of their civilian government might be wrong, Kashmir might be an ongoing tragedy caused by both sides, but even with that being said, and with all due respect to Pakistan and India, we Americans - again, respectfully - don't have a dog in this fight.
I hope both nations will resolve their disputes peaceably but... it's not our job to do that for them.
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Excellent article by Imran Khan. The world must act to free Kashmir from Indian occupation. India is turning into a Hindu nationalist country with no tolerance and rights for minorities.
There are BBC reports on the terrifying conditions in Kashmir. The man is speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves and all you guys can talk about is the actions of a previous government he wasn’t even part of.
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The people of Kashmir have the right of self determination. The fact is that India has occupied Kashmir without the will of Kashmiri people imposing curfew, now in its 4th week. All communications have been cut off. It’s been reported by BBC and some other foreign media that Indian army is committing atrocities against the people of Kashmir. The world needs to take notice. The free world must demand the end of Indian occupation, end of curfew and atrocities, and free and fair referendum for the people of Kashmir to choose their own destination. Kashmir wants independence. Kashmir wants freedom.
It is crystal clear that the issue of Kashmir cannot be resolved by the power of guns and explosive.UN_security council must have to take this outstanding issue sincerely otherwise its repercussion will be highly fatal and unrepairible for the world .
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He is doing all he can to solve the matter peacefully yet world leaders are silent. whatever happens after this Pakistan can't be blamed for initiating it. Mr. Prime Minister has always been very clear on his no military solution policy. He suggested peace deal with Taliban when everyone was happy sending US and NATO troops to Afghanistan, the peace process is motivated by his longstanding stand on this issue. This time he is going all out to solve the issue through dialogue. The notion of army controlling the govt's official policy is rubbish. World need leaders like him especially India. when you say he is controlled by the army remember he is an Oxford graduate, former VC at Bradfor university, so he knows very well what he is doing. He was the pioneer of neutral umpiring and pitches in Asia. Besides no one can control the PM office it's too much to put in a plate.
I observe that the threat of war is consistently coming from Pakistanis, why, Mr Khan himself. If that is not terrorism, than what is?
India has enumerated the benefits that Kashmir and its people will reap with the abrogation of 370 and 35A, while only 2-3 families apparently enjoyed when these articles were in place.
What has Pakistan got to offer to Kashmiri people? The sorry state of Pakistan's economy can not inspire hope to anyone!
6
I cannot recall so many references to a potential use of nuclear arms exchange since perhaps the 1950s. Very dangerous and ugly situation. And much in the name of differing concepts of God and religion - which are likely merely figments of human thinking than any reality emancipated from human thought.
1
World calm for a long time on the issue of Kashmir. Indian military brutality cannot miff the voice of innocent Kashmiris. Pakistan successfully tests a ballistic short-range nuclear-capable missile and send a signal for world, what is another option for Pakistan, if world continuously ignores the massacre of Kashmiris people.
i am just saying that war is going to happen within couple of months and it will be a third episode of WW series because world powers are ignoring Pakistan's real effort to peace and terrorism.
The riots in Gujrat occured in 2002 during the first year of PM Modi's term as the chief minister of the state. Thousands of Muslims were killed, a lot of them hacked to death by mobs. Hunderds of women were also gangraped during the 3 days of violence. Even if we charitably ignore any role of Mr Modi's government, it was a failure of epic propotions.
But instead of it resulting in PM Modi's downfall that led to his meteoric rise at the Indian national political scene. Today, 17 years later, he is serving his 2nd term as the prime minister of India. Much like President Trump, PM Modi rose to power on the back of an energetic electroral base, part of which cherishes hypernationalism and rewards xenephobia.
Given this context, PM Modi's actions in Kashmir must be viewed with extreme concern and suspision by the international community.
6
At a greater level, I wonder if this is another consequence of a lack of American leadership.
What was the signal that Modi received from the American Gov't? India does not have to tell us what it plans to do, but it must make a rational judgement with respect to reactions and consequences of the US.
The laissez-faire attitude we've seemingly introduced to global strategic policy is dangerous. We've empowered Korea (nuclear sub testing), Russia (annexation of Crimea and war in Ukraine), now this. Not sure where is is heading unless having regional powers rise to cause problems for China is the goal.
Wish for the days of George H.W. Bush, James Baker and Brett Scowcroft.
3
@They
United States has business to interfere in the business of two sovereign countries. The US should stop bossing around other countries. There's no point blaming current US President as Russian annexation of Crimea happened before current administration.
"Not sure where is is heading unless having regional powers rise to cause problems for China is the goal"
United States is strategically seeking the help of India to check-mate China's regional leadership since Pakistan is more of an ally of China than it is to the US.
Mr Khan doesn't have guts to question human rights violations of Muslims in China but his heart bleeds for Kashmiris. What a hypocrite!!
For as long as there is a Free Market Economy, we will continue to see overt and covert funding of militias worldwide. And for as long as human beings have individual thoughts and beliefs and convictions, there will be war.
It’s admirable that we think we ought to stop people from fighting each other. But I ask you this: if you had a true conviction that the person across your street was a threat to your way of life, and if your efforts to mitigate and co-exist were met with the murder of your loved ones, would you stay idle and wait for law enforcement?
I believe you would not. You would take your guns and start using them.
Luckily, in our society, this isn’t happening. Yet.
An excellent article by Imran Khan and the New York times sagacity to publish it. The fascist mindset of Modi's government has not only alienated Kashmiri Muslims but all other Muslims living for centuries in India who are at least 160 million. Muslims are threatened and falsely accused of cow slaughter and Kashmir is the only state in India with a Muslim majority and its accession to India is dubious but with a brute majority in the Indian parliament, Modi annexed it. He further downgraded the status of Kashmir as a union territory meaning the people of Kashmir has little voice in the state affairs. History tells us that all fascist in the world has the bad end and I feel that one day will come when people of India might be Hindu but they would raise their voices against Modi leading to his downfall.
3
bharat is a big threat to the world peace and bharat will initiate nuclear war against pakistan.
the only solution of hindut is the blkanization of india and khalistan and kashmir should be independent as well as other 19 states who do not want to live under RSS terrorism.
2
Prime Minister Imran Khan is Right, India under Modi has become a symbol of terror in the region. State sponsored terrorism by Modi government has crossed all limits in kashmir. Modi is taking India to the point of No Return, Naga Land is just one example, Khalistan and Kashmir coming soon. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits are treated as Dogs in India under Modi. Wake Up World, Wake Up United Nations. Kashmir is bleeding, their men are murdered and women are raped on daily basis. Stop Genocide in Kashmir .. what are we all waiting for ? please come forward and stop modi
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Fill in the blanks.
1. Which country was born on the basis of religious division?
2. Which country attacked India four times (1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999) and suffered defeats?
3. Which country’s government scientist first stole nuclear secrets from the West and then proliferated nuclear technology to rogue regimes?
4. Where did Osama Bin Laden take shelter, running from US forces after 911?
5. Where did the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the 911 mastermind confess to killing journalist Daniel Pearl?
6. Where did Ramzi Yousuf the 1993 world trade center attacker, get indoctrinated and get his bomb making training?
7. Where did the ten Mumbai attackers who killed 164 innocent civilians come from? Who trained and funded them?
8. Where were/is terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Toibad and Jaish-e-Mohammed founded head quartered and funded?
9. Where did the Indian Parliament attackers come from?
10. Why did the US mount a stealth attack even unknown to the host government to catch and kill Osama Bin laden, if indeed the host government was serious in rooting out terrorism?
Seriously? Thank god this is an Oped.
@NYT Editors: An Oped from the Indian view point is in order
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I don't think anyone would be concerned if the last 6 years hadn't seen killing and burning alive of Muslims Dalits and christians in videos last 6 years, a few a month.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judism don't tell their adherents to hate or kill.
It's the corrupt leaders and their hateful ideologies that result in humanitarian crisis all over the world, regardless of the religion of that country.
Who would have thought a Buddhist country will kill 10k plus and ethnically cleanse 1M rohingya in Mayamar. It wasn't Buddhism that killed rather extremist and hateful ideology of Mayammar leaders.
Same is true for Muslim countries most of whom have pretty bad record of human rights abuses.
Here we are talking about India because you don't see people getting lynched, killed or burned alive, several a month, with police onlooking or helping the killers in Saudi or Pakistan or Iran or Malaysia or Indonesia or Jordan or UAR or other places in the world, but we are seeing that in the NEW India.
8+ M Indians work in Muslim gulf countries and no one is burning them alive. Millions of Hindus and budhdists live in East asian Muslim countries and no one is lynching them or Killing them on video while police is helping the killers with ZERO prosecutions.
Time for India and Indians to wakeup and stop this really bad trend that has the power to destroy India from within.
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The ides of running an op-ed from the prime minister of anywhere is just obviously ridiculous. Assume he didn't write it; it you want his opinion, interview him.
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Agree with that. Nothing wrong in IK or other having opinion about it but NYT choose to publish only one sided opinion. Basically forcing their own opinion thorough op-ed
"It's China and Hong Kong's problem."
"It's India and Pakistan's problem."
Imran Khan is a visionary leader, Imran Khan. He was a great sportsman then he served his life for the welfare of poor people. He built several cancer hospitals to treat people for free. Several universities for poor people. He is an Oxford graduate and a philanthropist. What we are dealing here is, on the one hand, we have philanthropist turned Prime Minister and a Hindu nationalist who spent wll his life in notorious RSS a fascist group of people who killed Gandhi and Christians, Sikhs and Muslims.
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Mr Imran Khan needs to clarify the human right issues in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Why is it not free yet. Why does Pakistan decide which political parties will be allowed to "contest" election. Why has the demographics there changed so that kashmiris are minorities there. Most residents and landowners there are punjabis and pathans. What happened to "Kashmiris"
J +K ruler signed instrument of accession to India after british left. Pakistan needs to get out of India and stop being a terrorist state.
5
@Vanita S AJK has it's own prime minister, President, budget etc. The only thing it lacks is recognition from world commumity as a sovereign State. And the demographics of AJK have not been changed. AJK people are governing themselves, hence we have never seen any protests.
Kashmir is an integral part of India on the virtue of accession by its king to India under the Indian independence act. Questioning the accession is like questioning the existence of Pakistan.
Pakistan attacked kashmir in 1947..It encouraged militancy and jihad in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir..Mirage of Kashmir led to break up of pakistan by India in 1971..Any misadventure might prove very very costly for Pakistan.
A country like Pakistan which has breeded terrorism factories,where UN designated terrorists roam free, who crushed its minorities,illegally occupied POK,did genocide in Bangladesh has the audacity to lecture India..Shameful
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Dear Mr Khan , we in India are aware of our imperfect but solid secular democracy - pls consider becoming aware of your Islam only military run state - you may begin by explaining how the greatest mass murderer Osama Bin Ladin - was found in Pakistan Kashmir, living there comfortably for several years after 9/11.
I don’t like our Hindu fanatics but they are puny compared to yours.
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Imran is right on the brutality of the clampdown in Kashmir but he would not have the guts to write an article on the far worse ethnic cleansing of the Uighur Muslims by China as he knows where his country is getting its pay from.
4
Khan's narrative of a peaceful Pakistan against a big, bad Nazi-loving Modi will appeal to many liberals - but it's also why so many moderate Indians have tragically and overwhelmingly turned to Modi. While every Modi story in the New York Times mentions the 2,000 Muslims he allowed to die in the 1990s, few liberals today even know that Pakistan waged a genocide, reported with detail ironically in the New York Times, that killed an estimated 3 million Hindus and Muslims in modern-day Bangladesh. Pakistan harbored and sponsored terrorists like Osama bin Laden, while the Pakistani army's explicit mission is Jihad. In the eyes of Modi supporters, the center-left gives Pakistan a pass, but is deeply critical of a much more inclusive and democratic India. If the left can learn to fairly situate criticism of Modi's neo-facism with Pakistan's much darker history of genocide and terrorism, the balanced narrative will pull many back to a secular, inclusive vision of India. It's similar to what the left must do in America and Israel to pull moderate voters away from Trump and Netanyahu.
8
Mr. Khan should stop Nuclear black mail of world. Earlier Pakistan used to black mail india under Nuclear hang by launching terrorist. Today He is trying to blackmail world with a fear of Nuclear war. Stop negotiating by pointing gun at your own head.
3
So much on Kashmir and our Muslim brothers suffering- BUT never a word about our Muslim brothers and sisters in concentration camps by our best friends CHINA- is it because they belong to a different race ie., Uyghur?
And a great Islamic nation like our Pakistan is the best all weather friend of an avowed atheist nation whose imbalanced policies against millions of Muslims in "retreat camps" being abused and murdered?
Never has our PM Mr. Imran Khan even mentioned the plight of our helpless Uyghur Muslim brothers and sisters. Please add this aspect with the Kashmir Muslim brothers and sisters.
5
If everything is all right why still no internet in Kashmir. When you can’t call your parents or children for 22 days... and counting.. honey it ain’t all sweet
2
This reads like the Amazon rain forest disaster . . . Whatever catastrophe happens there takes the whole world with it. Get in line Pakistan.
1
Where the world sees it's interests first, there are no human rights no laws for powerful countries, India, Israel which are violating all human rights in all ways but UN has never pushes for any resolution against them, real terrorists enjoy full impunity but the innocents suffer. India which always violates all UN resolutions and human rights on Kashmir and it's treatment of minorities inside India is seen as a big market for west so they remain silent. Curfews for more than 26days now. IF People killed in Kashmir were Christians would the world remain silent , never Bcoz Muslims are killed so everything is OK for the champions of human rights.
Mr. Khan,
Your article shows that you are the only pious and Mr Modi, RSS and India is Villain.
Don't you think world knows the truth:
1. Who killed thousands of innocent people in Baluchistan, Do you remember recent genocide of 2018 and thousands of missing persons.
2. If Pakistan loves peace, why it has always attacked India.
3. Do you think is it a secret that you only propelled in US that there are 30 to 40K terrorists in Pakistan.
4. What about Osama bin laden and Afgan Taliban.
5. Don't you know every time India started peace talk, there were always a major terrorist attack. You & ISI play double game always. Not talking to pakistan insulates India from ISI inspired terrorist attacks. Isn't good strategy to avoid attacks, there are many examples of this Pathankot,Uri. Mr. Modi even allowed ISI to visit india to examine site what he got.
6. RSS has not done any criminal activity/terrorist activity like LeT, Jaish ed. Do you think United states does not know truth and fool enough to put 10M$ bounty on Hafiz Saeed without any reason.
5
Imran Khan is vilifying Modi who has won by overwhelming majority in a secular nation with world’s second largest Muslim population.
While Pakistan is an Islamic republic who had systematically cleansed its minorities and their reaction was to galvanize the Muslim “Ummah” against India.
How is it Ok and liberal for Pakistan to talk about pan Islamism and how is it Fascism for India to acknowledge its Hindu roots while remaining secular. This reeks of Hypocrisy!!
5
@Concerned World Citizen Unfortunately under the influence of nationalist rhetoric, Indians have elected a rightwing extremist to lead them. Right wing parties have never been able to win significant number of seats in Pakistani elections.
Secondly Pakistan has never systematically cleansed its minorities. Sadly Indian media has for decades fed this misinformation to its viewers inorder to vilify Pakistan. According to the 1951 census, Hindu population of West Pakistan at the time was arround 2.5 - 3 % which has pretty much remained the same since. The decline in the overall population of Hindus in Pakistan was due to Independence of Bangladesh where Hindus comprised 18% of total population. Post soviet-afghan war there has been an overall increase in violence in Pakistan in which unfortunately no one has been spared.
Historically speaking significantly more communal riots have occurred in India compared to Pakistan.
In the interests of fair reporting, perhaps the NYT could
also include PM Narendra Modi’s point of view on the same subject? Some points to consider (these have not previously been reported in the NYT):
1. As a Union Territory under the Republic, all residents of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh now have equal rights extended to all communities - Muslim and non-Muslim minority communities.
2. Discrimination specifically against women who had to forfeit property if they married non-Kashmiris lifted under the new UT rules.
The NYT has previously reported the exercise in India of the largest free and fair elections in the free world in glowing terms - for a Republic that honors laws relating to the separation of religion and state in its constitution and enforces the same to all federated states and union territories unambiguously and equally. Yet when the head of that same state exercises that state’s constitutionally-mandated right to Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh (which has also been approved by the U.N.), that action is vilified by the NYT? And Pakistan, who’s constitution is based on a Islamic State that does NOT recognize the separation of religion and state, considers all non-Muslims to be Kafir and approved for genocide (including the Muslims of Kashmir who are in fact considered Kafir because they are a different sect from the majority Muslims of Pakistan) - the head of this state gets to present their “outrage” at India’s action, and not India’s head of state?
5
Also. while the Muslims in the Valley in J&K complain about New Delhi’s domination and want freedom, they have been dominating over Hindus in Jammu and to the Buddhists in Ladakh. The Ladakh region has been exploited and neglected since 1947 in every way possible by the Kashmiris Muslim political leaders.
The ethnic cleansing of the Pandits in the Kashmir Valley by the Kashmiri Muslim militants: In the 1980s, over 450,000 Pandits were in the Kashmir Valley, living there for millennia. The Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front run by Muslim separatists, getting money and arms from Pakistan and other sources, targeted the Pandits and their women with gruesome violence and threats of violence, and drove them out of the Valley. Now, hardly 3000 Pandits live there. Their exodus from the valley is hardly highlighted as ethnic cleansing, even in the Indian media.
Many Kashmir Pandits, converted to Islam over the past several centuries for a variety of reasons, are now prominent political leaders in the valley. The scary irony is that many of today’s Kashmiri Muslims, descendants of Kashmir Pundits an d carrying their DNA themselves, are those responsible for the exodus and the ethnic cleansing of the Hindu Pandits from Kashmir. That scares me.
-- Kollengode S Venkataraman
4
Let not history repeat itself-- no timely understanding of Hitlerian extremism; and now, lack of understanding of religious extremism (of any form)?!
These kinds of articles, calling the leader, of the country with whom you want to negotiate, a fascist wont help that. The article is full of exaggerations. What Mr. Khan wont talk is a plethora of terrorist groups his country is training and pushing into India. He also does not mention about what he is doing to eliminate these groups. NYTimes is publishing views from one side only. As a consequence, many people wont take them seriously.
7
Every Indian and Pakistani should read the second sentence of this article again and again. Those glacier cannot provide 2 billion people forever, you can see water crisis now. Deforestation in Himalayas along with climate change and enormous appetite for natural resource will make the life unsustainable in the subcontinent. India and Pakistan desperately need Green New Deal. India needs AOC not Modi.
2
So glad we spent last March in Kashmir, on a houseboat, and skiing in Gulmarg. Probably the last of many visits to that astoundingly beautiful area. Such gracious and generous people...my heart aches for that conflict foisted upon them.
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Imran Khan should also point out to the recent report to the US Congress, where it stated that the Pakistani Army interfered in the last years election to get him elected.
Pakistan has treated its religious minorities far worse than any other south Asian country. In fact, it is the only country where a majority of the population voted to leave in 1971. Because that majority was being oppressed and massacred by the Punjabi minority that dominates the Pakistani military.
Imran Khan would be better served by focussing on the economy, which is in the doldrums. Pakistan has to beg for IMF loans, and even their best friend China doesn't want to bail them out.
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Pakistan routinely threatens to pull the trigger on a gun to its own head. This is simply alarmist and speculative fear mongering by Pakistani PM. No external threats have been issued by India and it is Pakistan that is into war mongering on an internal Indian political issue. Kashmir is a federal power sharing issue entirely between the Kashmiri Muslims and the Indian state. Pakistan has no standing except that it occupies a portion of the erstwhile J&K state. The world should ignore and let India handle this on its own. Pakistan should move on to address its own multiple economic and political crises. Lets not forget that since assuming power with military backing, the Pakistani PM has jailed 2 former PMs and imposed draconian censorship on its own media.
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Please note the most recent Pew country favorably ratings of Pakistan by Americans. It ranks right up there with bed bugs and root canals. It appears the Pakistanis wish to have to it both ways--shield Osama Bin Laden, fund terrorist groups, destabilize Afghanistan while gaining American support and aid. I'm afraid the two two are mutually exclusive.
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Please, let’s give peace a chance. Appeal to better angels of our nature and reigning inner demons of mind.
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India needs to restore the rights of speech and representation to Kashmir. They have lowered the status to that of a colonial territory. If the Indian government wants to fully integrate the state so it follows the same rules as the rest of the country it should have the right but what they have done is unjust.
Whether it’s in Kashmir or Israel or the USA. Every single individual should have the right to a voice in their government. That means representation and voting. Until we can achieve we cannot claim to be a democracy.
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Mr. Khan, we can't even begin to imagine what's happening at ground level in Kashmir. BBC and Al-Jazeera videos and pictures paint a stifling, awful environment.
Thank you for writing this piece.
But there is no leadership in this the USA.
We will be a "sunk-ship" if Mr. Trump is re-elected.
If Obama was the president, major US diplomats would already be in Islamabad and Dehli as we speak.
Mr. Modi will do India itself grave, grave injustice if he doesn't return the hand of dialogue and peace. India is in considerable danger over many provincial factions aiming for sovereignty after what they are seeing in Kashmir... Assam, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, etc.
Peace and dialogue is the way forward... and include the Kashmiris, it is their life, their land. Otherwise, we need to seriously worry about what the outcome will be... and it will affect all of us, whether we like to hear it or not.
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I support Modi in his decision to making India a more egalitarian society. Before his decision to revoke Article 370, the Kashmiris (mostly Muslims) had more rights then others within India. For example, when I visited Cochin, Delhi, Chennai, and Bangalore, I’ve shopped at Kashmiri Muslim-owned businesses. However, a Muslim from Cochin, Delhi, Chennai, or Bangalore can’t own a business in Kashmir (or even a non-Muslim from states other than Kashmir). This is a form of discrimination against non-Kashmiri Indians.
Also, what are the Kashmiri Muslims so worried about? There Are over 200M Muslims living throughout India, and they are very peace loving. They have been brainwashed by Pakistan to fear the Hindu majority nation of India. Another thing that i would like to point out is that Indian minorities are treated well.
Has anyone ever polled the Kashmiri Hindus? They’ve been pushed out of their homeland. They’re thrilled about all this.
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India’s religious minorities are treated well? You mean like when thousands of Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and Punjab? When hundred of Muslims were attacked in Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat? When leaders of the BJO and RSS condone and even encourage gang violence against Muslim, Christians and Dalits throughout the country? Yes, treated very well.
@Jas Kaur Do India's religious minorities treat the majority well? Like the sikhs were butchering Hindus in Punjab in 80s? Or how the Muslims burned the Hindus in Godhra in a train? Good treatment and secularism is mutual, not the onus of the majority alone.
Well written. We all know all is not perfect in Pakistan. However, we also know any nuclear exchange India and Pakistan included, would be a world wide catastrophe. Hopefully some calmer heads can help restore peace and stability in Kashmir and de escalate tensions on the Indian subcontinent.
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yes Imran Khan writes well and what he says about the current Indian govt is valid. It is just that he hides one fact: in its current avatar the Indian govt has become closer to what Pakistan has always been. Religously fanatic and aggressively against minorities. Only difference is that the army in India is fairly subdued. As a cricketer Mr. Khan was an imaginative leader and had a knack for doing more with less. India should not handle him in the dismissive way they are doing now. He may have a surprise or two up his sleeve to counter their hidebound moves.
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This situation with Kashmir and with India/Pakistan is a historical by-product of British divide and rule policy which apparently has been effective for decades.
India’s move is not a right wing Hindu objective as Mr Khan portrays —it will help bring more investment, prosperity, progress, and stability to Kashmir.
Both Mr Modi and Mr Khan want the people of their countries to be more prosperous, healthy and secure—obviously making a threat of nuclear war does not further those goals.
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Mr. Khan says nothing in this article about the plight of millions of Uighurs in China, who are being treated much, much worse than the Muslims of Kashmir ever will be. Yet Pakistan embraces China completely, and depends heavily on their assistance, both economically and politically. This hypocrisy has been a hallmark of Pakistani politicians since the nation was created.
Mr. Khan would do well to drop the fantasy of regaining Indian Kashmir, and focus on properly governing the land and people that he already controls.
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Mr. Khan conveniently forgot to mention persecution and purging of Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and all other non-Islamic religions from Pakistan. There are hardly any churches or Hindu/Sikh temples left, and all other minority religions are constantly under threat in Pakistan. Also, there is no mention of Pakistan-sponsored support for terrorists in Kashmir. Look around the world and you will find that there is overwhelming evidence that Muslims are either incapable or unwilling to peacefully coexist with any other religion.
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Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of Sikhs who cross the Wagah border to visit the historic Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan.
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@RS While I agree with some of what you said, I think you are completely wrong about Muslims being incapable with living with other groups. That's a careless statement.
After 70 years of strife it is time for the two countries to settle their differences. While both countries talk about Kashmir, for most in the Subcontinent it is just a talking point and a clever diversion from real issues that their people face. Poverty remains the biggest issue. Both countries have nearly 600 million who live in absolute poverty despite of some economic gains. The wealth is unevenly distributed in both countries. Yet both countries spend nearly 25% of their budgets on defense.
Both countries should set aside their differences on Kashmir and work in all other aspects - enhance trade, reduce military budgets, stop funding terrorism, water and resource sharing etc. It is no different than asking Israel to settle the Jerusalem issue first before Palestinians talk peace. That is a non starter and asking India to give up Kashmir is no different. Kashmir has no economic value to either country. But politicians and military leaders need it to fund their own survival. Since diplomacy is being waged in a newspaper column the editors could have insisted what new proposals did he have to solve the crisis other than threat of war. Both countries only had war for 70 years. They have similar language, culture, eat the same food, and even dance to the same music why not just give peace a chance? The ordinary people in both countries want peace. I wish the leaders listen to them.
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@SridharC excellent post! I totally agree with you. Our politicians and religious leaders have used Kashmir for their own gain while millions live in poverty, with no water and no hope. Pakistani officials live off the money that US gives them but still foment and support the likes of Taliban and Al Queda etc. Even now Afghanistani women cant have even the most basic rights. This hard stance by Modi will please his followers but do nothing for Kashmir.
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@SridharC
Your comments contradict themselves - if the majority of Indians and Pakistanis truly do not care about Jammu & Kashmir, why has the BJP so successfully used divisive & hardline rhetoric on J&K a vote gathering tool?
If Kashmir ranks so low on the radar of interests of the Indian electorate, why have successive Indian governments refused to re-enter negotiations with Pakistan under the auspices of the UN to jointly demilitarize and create conditions for the holding of a plebiscite?
This talk of 'the majority of Indians want peace and it is the political leadership that is preventing it' is hogwash - the political leadership is acting the way it is because the electorate (the Indian electorate specifically) doesn't want a compromise and allow the Kashmiris to decide their future as stated in UNSC Resolutions and committed to by the Indian leadership at the time.
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@AgNoStIc MuSliM Democracies have an inherent Achilles heel, they frequently succumb to demagogues. How else do you explain the election of Trump? Most Americans are repulsed by Trump's rhetoric but nevertheless he sits in the White House. But they correct themselves too! The Indian economy has slowed significantly, don't expect BJP to win again if that does not change. BJP did not win in the Southern Indian States, regardless of Kashmir.
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Dear Mr. Khan:
Gradually, but surely, Pakistan lost Kashmir over the past seventy years. By continuing to use proxy militias to foment resistance in the Indian Kashmir, or with direct invasions in 1965 and 1999.
As a Pakistani, I am disappointed that a genuine cause was sacrificed at the alter of stupidity. With her senseless Kashmir policy, Pakistan lost ALL support in the world. As India formally annexes Kashmir today, there is nothing you or your backers, the Pakistan Army, can do any more. You are most welcome to bring traffic to a standstill in the country, burn peoples' valuable time and resources while "protesting" the Indian annexation, but that's all there is you can do.
Except you may fervently hope that a genuine uprising takes root in Kashmir. But that is by no means certain.
So forgive me for disbelieving your words in this op-ed. Pakistan will not go anywhere a direct confrontation with India who is too big and too resourceful versus my impoverished country. You see, the thoughtless policy was never limited to Kashmir; Pakistan bled itself dry, the Army remained almighty and relevant by keeping the Kashmir issue alive, and democracy never took root.
Pakistan paid with its blood, tears and rampant chaos for a cause she should never have bungled up so badly.
I understand you and your backers need to write these op-eds and "protest" on Fridays. But perhaps this is all you can do. The writing was on the wall for a long time. Modi just pulled the curtains.
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@AF
Nicely put.
The world is *not* in danger because Pakistan cannot wage a nuclear war with India without assuring Pakistan’s total destruction.
Through a series of disastrous political decisions, Pakistan is nearing status of a failed state.
Mr. Khan should concentrate on addressing the Balochistan separatists movement before Russia steps in to establish its presence there.
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It is highly diabolic on the part of a "SELECTED" Prime Minister of Pakistan to write such vitriolic message. How can the world forget that it is the same Pakistan, which was harbouring Osama Bin Laden for several years and its own Prime Minister Mr. Musharraf had said on record that he wold have well bargained OBL with America (obviously mentioning Dollars from USA).
Pakistan is a country in self denial mode from the very beginning of its rickety establishment. This country has usurped Balochistan Country and now Balochistan is demanding Freedom from its clutches. Pakistan always plays Nuclear Bomb Card to draw World Media Attention and now the time has come to strip Pakistan of its Nuclear Arsenal, which at anytime can go in the hands of Afghanistani Jehadis and Pakistani Terrorists.
World leaders must now wake up and demand Pakistan to Diffuse its all the Bombs, which are Threat not Just to India but to the whole world.
Which Prime Minister ratchets up Nuclear war Hysteria like this? It is too naïve on his part and must be taught a strict lesson for bringing worries on our planet's brothers and sisters..
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I am all for self determination and autonomy. However, Kashmiris have shown that they are not interested in representative government, only in guns. In the last decade they have not turned out even for local elections; turn out has been in the teens.
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@Nagarajan so what does that tells you ? Kashmiris doesn’t want India to govern them, they are being occupied why would they side with the occupier force?
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All this talk of war is fanatic islamic extremism coming from islamic state of Pakistan and Imran. All previous wars have been started by Pakistan. So if war happens again, it will again be started by Pakistan.
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Where are all the articles on what pakistan has done about human rights violations? where are all the articles condemning terrorist activities going on in pakistan? The world has forgotten the hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri pandits that were driven out of Kashmiri by the same people who are claiming human rights violations now.
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Narendra Modi is the democratically elected leader of the largest democracy in the world through a free and fair election. I don't understand this demonizing of him. He has done immense good for India which is why he was re-elected. Certainly India is not blameless where Kashmir is concerned, but that is India's problem to solve. I have been a great admirer of Mr. Khan but he is putting the nuclear gun to his own head and threatening the world. . Mr. Khan's real problem is the Pakistan Army, who put him in power. If Kashmir did not exist, then the Pakistan Army would have invented it to justify their existence. Moreover Pakistan is hardly a paragon of democracy, human rights and protection of its minorities.
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India, a “democracy”. That’s rich.
The "Kashmiris" that are being identified and arrested are the thousands that Pakistan has sent across the border to foment anti-India sentiment. Which country can tolerate this? Imagine if terrorists start living in a state in the US, and mix in with native residents and throw stones at the police. The only way to identify them is to place a clampdown and do house to house searches. Otherwise please listen to Mr Modi's speech in which India has great pland to infuse money and development in Kashmir a poor state. Pakistan wants Kashmir to be viewed as separate from India, we have fought 3 wars on this, but it has had no international right on this. The creation of Bangla Desh in 1971 was India helping liberate Bangla deshis from the horror and abuses of Pakistan. Pakistan is the most fanatic Muslim state, and easily harbors more terrorists than any corner of the earth. All that Modi recently did by abolishing its special status was to integrate Kashmir with the rest of India, and lives of millions of ordinary Kashmiris will now be infinetly better as Indian companies and employers start businesses in Kashmir. Also in the works are educational initiatives to University level, develop tourism, and make this paradise on Earth crime and terror free.
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There was a time when discussing kashmir peblisite was not taboo in india. Kashmir issue could have been resolved by now if it was a peaceful movement. But in name of Jihad, Pakistan pushed kashmir into terrorism
That's when everything took a different turn. it is jihadi propaganda of Pakistan which is responsible for the current situation.
Infact an average Indian does not care if Kashmir is part on India or not. Unfortunately
If you pick up arms and decide to terrorize a nation to get your way, then there will be consequences.
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The main reason for the absence of peace between India and Pakistan is the inferiority complex from which both countries suffer.
Going back as far as 13 century, Mongols were invading India whenever they had nothing else to do. Then the colonists showed up: First the Portuguese and then the British. The Portuguese came to India around 1500 and were the first to establish European trading centers in India. They formally left India in 1960.
The British invaded India and ruled there with iron fist for almost a century (1858 - 1947). On their way out - some would say out of spite - they arranged the partition of colonial India into two states: Current India and Pakistan.
Kashmir is one place where both India and Pakistan want to prove their days of national humiliation are over. In particular India, not being able to stand up to China in three border wars, is eager to flex its muscles against Pakistan, which it has defeated in the past (when it intervened in Pakistan's civil war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.).
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@Eddie B.
You got a number of things right except missing the inherent hatred of Pakistani elites towards Hindus and Hinduism - a complex emotion derived from sense of religious superiority and from longing of times when Mughals ruled over India.
In addition to resurgent nationalism in India, there is another impediment to diplomacy between Pakistan and India; Pakistan’s military is not under civilian control, so India knows that promises made by Khan and his emissaries are empty.
When Khan speaks about the possibility of nuclear war, I suspect it is a good-faith warning - not a threat. Knowing fully well that he doesn’t control the levers of military power, Khan seems to believe an international PR campaign might head off any drastic measures taken by his own military, as well as India’s.
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I’m am of Indian origin. I must say I’m quite impressed by Imran Khan’s opinion piece. It shows expansive thinking, humility and grit, but definitely not appeasement. Even amongst educated, well-meaning Indians, skepticism about the robustness of democracy in Pakistan is prevalent. If nothing else, this open article by Mr.Khan paves the way for the citizens of both countries to communicate and exchange ideas directly and re-examine some age old preconceived notions about each other.
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I wish there were a lot more people like you on both sides of the border. Peace is the only viable option but it cannot be achieved in the shadow of suppression, oppression, fear & nuclear threats.
Although Pakistan is not without blame for issues in the region, it has been easy to see that your actions as leader of Pakistan have consistently been to reduce tensions with India. I appreciate your willingness to deescalate when possible and to be the adult in the room. I wish India would step up, but clearly they have goals that they are unwilling to compromise on and know that negotiations will get nowhere.
I'm truly worried that India is trying to create a Hindu state out of Kashmir by expelling the native Kashmiris. They have already taken the first steps, and by making the region as inhospitable as possible, people will flee. Similar to how Myanmar expelled all of its Rohingya people.
Threatening nuclear war with India does not seem wise to me. In the end, everyone will lose (India, Pakistan, the Kashmiris, and the world). I am not sure what you can do, besides try to build a coalition with the world to apply pressure. And our leader in the US doesn't appear to be willing to do anything to help you achieve that goal.
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@Ethan B
Khan is trying to reduce tensions with India? Masood Azar, whose terrorist group Jaish e mohammad carried out attack on Indian army convoy that killed 40 soldiers.
He is an UN designated terrorist. He has USD 10 million bounty on his head. That guy is roaming free in Pakistan. Thats what is PM Khan's commitment. Actually we must pity with him. He is nobody to commit or oppose. Pakistan's foreign policy is totally controlled by Pakistan's army. Government in Pakistan is a puppet show by its army.
@Vijay Imran Khan inherited the political and military situation there where terrorist groups are able to establish bases and reach other countries. That's not his fault. He doesn't govern with religious nationalism, like his counterpart in India, and therefore doesn't, at least publicly, encourage and support those groups. In fact, publicly, he has unilaterally committed to reducing their presence in Pakistan, after tensions with India rose a few months ago and fighter pilots were shot out of the sky. India and Modi have consistently pushed for confrontation, whereas Imran Khan has not
@Ethan B
In fact the rwverse has happenwd. The hindu minority of kashmir valkey ( the kashmir pundits) ( please dont conflate jammu ladakh and kashmir into one.) Has been forced to flee and are living in refugee camps. The local govt was complicit in this. You dont hear about it because they did not resort to stone throwing or terrorism so they dont make news. Now they have a chance to retur to their homes
There is no response from Trump because he and Modi are in the same ideological camp. It is the same camp that includes Netanyahu, Brexit, Le Pen, Abe, Orban, Duda, MBS, Salvini, Bolsenaro and Putin. They will all lead their countries to disaster in the medium run.
However it will be much easier to remove Trump and Trumpism in the USA than to do the same in India. That spells big trouble for "new India" as wrong politics proves incapable of addressing the effects of climate change.
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It is clear that a peaceful, face saving solution is required to resolve this issue. India can’t wish away this issue; 70 years didn’t work. Pakistan can never win back the Indian part; that will never happen. However, back door diplomacy had taken both parties during the times of Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and Pervez Musharraf to the brink of a solution. That can be the point of departure to kick start any dialogue. Imran Khan had quite aptly stayed that if Germany and France, once bitter rivals, could become the closest partners and the lynchpin for the European Union, why can’t India and Pakistan. This is not the stuff of dreams. It is cliched but Pakistanis and Indians out of their countries make the best of friends, friendly rivalries and pointed barbs, notwithstanding. I have lived over 25 years out of South Asia in US and in Europe and can vouch for this - as I’m sure hundreds of thousands others.
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