Within two days of the momentous and historical bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories being implemented, New Delhi issued the modified map of India that was released by the Survey of India. The territories of Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) were shown in their new dispensations with their respective Union Territories.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir now comprises 22 districts that includes Muzaffarabad and Mirpur areas of Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and the Union Territory of Ladakh comprises the two districts of Kargil and Leh, including the POJK territories of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Indian Union is now formed of 28 States and 9 Union Territories as against 29 States and seven Union Territories earlier. The whole of India including the reorganised territories are celebrating the successful and seamless implementation of this historic correction. It is considered to be the best post-Diwali gift given by any government to the nation. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under the dynamic stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is drawing accolades for its courage, maturity and probity that it has exhibited in steering this big challenge to its rightful culmination.
Our neighbouring countries, sadly, are not ready to join us in the celebration, which is not surprising since they never thought of becoming good neighbours. The publication of the modified map by India immediately after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir has sent these countries and their proxy allies into a tizzy. In their panic they are making wild statements as usual. “[The political maps] displaying Jammu and Kashmir region and seeking to depict parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir within the territorial jurisdiction of India, are incorrect, legally untenable, void and in complete violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions,” a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
Pakistan added that no decision taken by India can change the “disputed” status, adding that such measures by the Indian administration would not be able to “prejudice the right of self-determination of the Kashmiris.”
China has chosen to stay quiet but it has prevailed upon good friend, Malaysia, to come to the aid of Pakistan. Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, the so-called President of the shady Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (MAPIM) said, “The implication of the new map is bound to create a strong public response amongst Kashmiris when the complete denial of their rights for self determination for the Kashmiris is now confirmed.” He went on to add that India was clearly violating the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution and called upon the UN to take strong action.
Such pathetic attempts to influence the situation are laughable. It is a known fact that all nations as well as the United Nations look upon the Indian act of reorganisation of the legitimate states of its Union as an internal matter. So, to whom are such statements directed? Is it simply saying something just for the sake of saying? And, who on earth is Mohd Azmi to be pontificating to the UN? He must stay within his boots.
It is notable here that in March this year China destroyed nearly 30,000 maps of India produced within the country because they depicted the irrefutable reality of showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of India. Again in April 2019, China in the course of its second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit, removed maps showing Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as part of India from the BRI website. Obviously, in China, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
Such belligerent, diplomatically obtuse, stupid and intemperate actions by the two nations have become a norm since the reorganisation action has been initiated by India. On October 31st, when the reorganised status of Jammu and Kashmir came into effect China openly declared the move as “null and Void” in a dim-witted departure from all diplomatic norms that enjoin nations to desist from interfering in internal affairs of other countries. China had the gall to make this abrasive comment despite being in illegal occupation of vast tracts of Indian territories in Gilgit-Baltistan that have been notoriously been handed over to them by Pakistan.
Surprisingly, Pakistan also used more or less the same language in a statement that emanated from its foreign office. “These changes are ‘illegal and void’ as per the relevant UNSC Resolutions……,” the statement said.
Nothing of what Pakistan and China are doing is going to affect the irretrievable changes that have been brought about in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is so because the changes have come into effect in accordance with the constitution of India and they are for the betterment of people living in the affected areas who have been suffering corruption, misrule and disruption for too long now. The bigger worry for them is the action that India may take to get back its occupied territories (POJK). This issue is giving to them sleepless night since they have large economic stakes in these colonised territories. Hence, these panic stricken statements. The infantile statements also indicate that the two countries are running out of options to deal with the situation, and in their frightened state, they are clutching at straws. It would be best for them to accept the reality and work towards coexistence as good neighbours. If this is done, the people of all sides will benefit tremendously.
India would do well to raise in international channels the issue of getting back the occupied territories from both Pakistan and China. It is the undeniable right of the country and more so in view of the manner in which large scale suppression of the people and exploitation of natural resources is being carried out over there. What is depicted on the map should become a reality on ground.