Policy towards India and the Kashmir Dispute
A study in light of the 2018 manifestos of Pakistani Political Parties1
F
oreign relations with neighbors remain among
priority agendas in a country’s external
policies. It is but natural, therefore, that
Pakistan-India relations have attained a vital position
in Pakistan’s foreign Policy since its inception. The
two neighbors share more than 2000 km long border
but the relations between them have been subjected to
deep mistrust and hostility due to the historical factors
and specifically the Kashmir dispute that led to the
eruption of three full scale wars between them.
The situation today is also not normal. The popular
freedom movement in Indian Occupied Kashmir
(IoK) is being brutally responded by Indian occupied
forces; LoC violations from India and cross LoC
skirmishes are a regular feature while water disputes
are aggravating in spite of some mechanisms which
are available under the Indus Water Treaty. These are
only some of the key subjects among host of other
contentious issues between the two countries.
Apart from the dynamics of bilateral relationship, the
realignments at regional and global levels are also
impacting the relations between the two countries. The
deepening relations between Pakistan and China is not
a new phenomenon but the growing strategic
partnership between India and United States, in the
backdrop of US rivalry against an emerging China is
impacting the regional balance and consequently the
already soared relations between India and Pakistan.
1
This brief is part of a larger study being conducted at IPS to understand the national mood in light of the approach of various
Political Parties, participating in the elections 2018, on subjects of important issues related to the National Agenda.
[1]
Despite having a bilateral framework of
comprehensive dialogue, the peace process between
Islamabad and Delhi remains at stalemate. Bilateral
trade remains at lowest levels against the huge
potential. People to people contacts have been
discouraging due to unwelcoming attitude towards
artists, politician as well as sportsmen, particularly in
India after the establishment of BJP’s government in
India.
Contrary to the Indian politics where bashing Pakistan
during political and election campaigns is becoming a
popular trend, criticizing India to muster support of
the masses does not seem to be an agenda in the
election discourse in Pakistan. Neither the popular
campaign nor the manifestos of the parties suggest any
such trend. The manifestos discuss relations with the
neighboring countries but do not go into a
disproportionate mention of India. It seems that in
view of current Indian conduct, Pakistan’s political
parties’ have reached the understanding that no
immediate breakthrough could be expected in the
status quo. For some, another reason could be related
to the Pakistani context of civil–military relations,
where politicians would consider it a subject on which
military has to have a say in policy formulation.
Nevertheless, despite representing different shades,
there seems a kind of unanimity of views on several
aspects of Pakistan India relations and Kashmir issue
among the Pakistani political parties. The following
brief review of the parties’ position based on their
manifestos and discussed under various headings,
would be helpful to understand the complete picture.
Peaceful coexistence with the neighbors (India)
Peaceful coexistence with neighbors is the one of the
major foreign policy goals of Pakistan. Under the
framework of peaceful coexistence nothing becomes
more significant in South Asian region than Pakistan-
India relations.
Almost all parties stress on building peaceful relations
with India. PML-N’s manifesto resolves to
“strengthen the narrative that Pakistan believes in
compassion and tolerance at home, while seeking the
friendship of all countries, on the basis of mutual
respect.” (p.63) PPP indicates that “normalizing
relations with India is essential for regional peace and
stability.” (p.58) PTI refers to a “conflict resolution
approach towards improving our relation with our
eastern and western neighbors.” (p.56) Mutihida
Majlis e Amal (MMA), without openly mentioning
India’s name, refers towards developing good
relations with neighboring countries based on
Peaceful coexistence. (p.5) Mutihida Qaumi
Movement (MQM) maintains that it “wants to
promote close, friendly and honorable relations with
all the countries, especially with the neighboring
countries.” (p.17) Awami National Party (ANP)
denotes that the “establishment of peaceful,
cooperative good neighbourly relations with India will
be given high priority.” (p.26)
This above statements reflect a common consensus
among the political parties for the importance of
building peaceful relations with the neighbours
generally and with India particularly given the dangers
of hostility between the two nuclear rivals.
A respectable and mutually acceptable dialogue
mechanism
There seems a consensus in all political parties on the
resolution of disputes with India through meaningful,
dialogue based on mutual respect. It does indicate that
all parties are mindful of the fact that any conditional
or imposed solution to the disputes wouldn’t be
acceptable. The thinking is reflected in manifestos.
PML-N vows to “stabilize relations with India through
a sustained dialogue process with the aim of resolving
all our differences.” (p.63) PPP focuses on mutual
respect and maintains that ‘talks will only be
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meaningful in an atmosphere of mutual respect with
all dialogue conducted through diplomatic channels.”
(p. 58). Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) doesn’t
directly mentions the dialogue but it does talk about
conflict resolution and stresses that “for lasting peace
within our own region, especially with our neighbor
India, conflict resolution and the security route to
cooperation is the most viable.” (p.56) MMA doesn’t
mention the dialogue but its statement regarding
relations with neighbors mentioned above, does
indicate that it endorses the dialogue based on mutual
respect. MQM also vows for ‘meaningful, sincere and
honorable dialogue’ (p.17) ANP’s manifesto mentions
‘peaceful negotiations and open dialogue’ as ‘the
hallmark of bilateral relations.’ (p.27) Though, ANP
vows to give high priority toward the establishment of
good relations.
While Pakistan would not accept any dialogue with
preconditions, India insist for initiating the pursuing
dialogue on its own terms; in this context,
sustainability of the dialogue becomes the most
pressing problem to be raised and explored.
Kashmiris Right of Self determination
Generally, the future policies of almost all the parties
reflect harmony on the issue of Kashmir. All the
parties seek the resolution of Kashmir dispute under
the auspices of United Nations i.e. in accordance with
UN resolutions, supporting the right of self-
determination of the Kashmiri people.
PML-N briefly yet comprehensively covers Pakistan’s
official stance on Kashmir. The manifesto expresses
solidarity and support to the oppressed people of
Kashmir along with Palestine and Rohingya, notably
in the chapter on National Security. (p.61) PML-N
aims to, “resolve the Kashmir Issue based on
Pakistan’s principled policy of providing our moral,
political and diplomatic support to the people of
Indian Occupied Kashmir, in their just and heroic
struggle for self- determination, in accordance with
UN resolutions.” (p.63) PTI places the ‘resolution of
the Kashmir dispute’ among four core national
interests. In its external policy, it vows to ‘work on a
blueprint towards resolving the Kashmir issue within
the parameters of UNSC resolutions.’ (p.56) PPP
maintains within the section on Trade, “without
prejudice to UN security Council Resolutions, we
support open and safe borders at the Line of Control
to unite the Kashmiri people socially and
economically and endorse cross-LoC trade”. It further
says “We formally believe that the political rights of
the Kashmiri People are indispensable for their
economic rights and that a just solution for Kashmir
should include its full integration to the emerging
regional economic cooperation-connectivity
paradigm.” (P.60) MMA pledges support for the
Kashmiri freedom movement and maintains that the
right of self-determination of Kashmiris in accordance
with UN resolutions to be the main pillar of its foreign
policy. (p.5) ANP’ does refer to the same thinking in
the statements already mentioned in the above section.
The manifesto states “All issues including Jammu and
Kashmir and other outstanding issues would be solved
through peaceful negotiations and open dialogue shall
become the hallmark of bilateral relations …” (p.27)
The above aspects being the key issues regarding Pak-
India relations have been covered by all parties with
little divergences. Based on the excerpts from
manifestos, it is logical to conclude that while
harmony on the fundamentals of the issues is clear, the
practical approaches of the parties may differ from
each other. There are other important aspects,
discussed in the following, that required policy
statement from the parties and have been reflected
upon in one or the other manifesto.
Water Dispute with India
Indian construction of controversial dams on western
rivers, is the issue that needs vigilance as well as
viable solution to avoid the worsening of water crisis
in Pakistan and to deter the moves by Indian
leadership to block the water considering the recent
threat of ‘water blockage’ by Indian PM Modi.
While focusing on energy, MMA touches on taking
measures to fill the gaps in Indus Water treaty that led
to the illegal construction of Indian dams. It also talks
about adopting a better legal and administrative
strategy to deal with the threat of water terrorism from
India. (p.6) PPP also reflects upon the issue stating
that “Pakistan must be guaranteed its right to water as
a lower riparian, and any Indian construction that
affects water flows must be subject to mutually
acceptable safeguards under relevant agreement. (p.
58)
Diplomatic Outreach
Indian diplomacy is very proactive in enhancing its
global profile. Indian leadership has on several
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occasion declared its intentions to try and isolate
Pakistan internationally. Political parties are expected
to come up with a resolve to invest in their diplomatic
outreach to address such issues.
PPP’s manifesto doesn’t fail to refer towards this
dimension. In the section of International Institutions,
it maintains, “we strongly believe that the countries in
violations of United Nations Security Council’s
resolutions on matters of international peace and
security such as Jammu and Kashmir dispute, by no
means qualify for the special status in the Security
Council” (P.59). Similarly, without naming India it
clearly mentions its opposition of NSG membership
for non-nuclear states unless it is non-discriminatory.
(P.55) Under the heading of Leading the Muslim
World, it assumes to utilize Pakistan’s strategic
strength to address the most pressing issue in OIC. It
also makes reference to ‘political and economic
support for self-determination of the Kashmiri people’
(P.62). As indicated above MMA has pledged to make
the freedom of Kashmir an important pillar of the
foreign policy. (p.5)
Trade Relations
Economic relations signify another important area
where reflection by the parties is expected. PPP does
refer to the development of ‘warmer trade relations’
with India. It further says, we believe that energy and
trade connectivity between Pakistan and India can
provide solutions to our region’s shared challenge to
poverty alleviation.’ (p.58)
Though economic relations is an area that needs
deeper deliberation keeping in view the hostile
relations between the two states and the disruption of
economic activity in the wake of disturbed peace
process. It appears that parties have ignored the
subject in the manifestos impliedly conveying that
warmer trade relations with India is a distant dream
and cannot be achieved unless a genuinely meaningful
dialogue process gets start.
Defense and Security
India is continuously modernizing its military and
strategic capabilities. Pakistan also needs to enhance
capabilities to ensure minimum credible deterrence
against all spectrum of threats. PTI indicates towards
this direction, too. The manifesto says that the
“credibility of Pakistan’s full spectrum deterrence will
be ensured.” It further says that the party “will move
substantively on the bilateral strategic dialogue with
India encompassing all aspects of the strategic nuclear
deterrence so as to prevent a spiraling nuclear arms
race in the region.” (p.58) PML-N says “resource fully
the military doctrine of full spectrum deterrence
against India’s colossal military buildup”. (p.61) With
reference to nuclear capability PML (N) promises to
maintain status as a responsible and credible nuclear
state. The manifesto also specifically mentions
“Attend war games and visit troops deployed at
frontline borders”. About the Nuclear, PPP vows to
“bring fresh focus, vigor and substance to Pakistan’s
nuclear security paradigm …”. (P.57) PPP regards
“Pakistan’s hard earned nuclear deterrence as a
cornerstone of its national and regional security and
stability equilibrium”. (P.55) MMA also pledges
protection of the nuclear capability of the country.
(p.5)
People to People contacts
Improvement of people to people contacts is a long
term goal to enhance the trust deficit gradually. None
of the parties mentions people to people contacts
except PPP which stresses by saying “easing travel
restrictions especially for tourism, medical treatments,
student exchanges, artists and businessmen.” (p.58)
Climate and Environmental Security
Climate change and environmental security are the
most pressing issues in global contemporary
challenges. Referring to the challenges of ‘water
stress, flash flood and smog,’ PPP stresses for the
cooperation between the two countries to resolve the
challenges of climate change and environmental
security. (p.58) It is indeed a pertinent area that needs
attentions due to the impact of Indian energy projects.
Prepared by:
Waqar un Nisa
Research Coordinator
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.
For queries:
Syed Nadeem Farhat, Senior Research Coordinator,
nadeem@ips.net.pk | www.ips.org.pk
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CONCLUSION
The upcoming political leadership would need to
formulate a strategy focusing on strengthening and
sustaining the prevailing consensus/ harmony on
Kashmir issue as well as relations with India. There
should be emphasis on the resolution of disputes
through peaceful means and negotiations with India.
However, as discussed earlier, owing to the Indian
domestic political dynamics, at least until next
elections in India (due in 2019) are held one cannot
expect any change in Delhi’s hawkish policy towards
Pakistan.
Keeping this in view, it is necessary to work on self-
preparedness. It is the time to communicate with and
influence international as well as the Indian public
opinion. Recently, in June 2018, United Nations
Human Rights Commission published a report on
gross human rights violations in IoK. It, is the first
ever report coming from the forum of UN and thus is
very pertinent in the context of awakening the
conscious of international community. Same goes for
the water dispute with India. However, preparation in
this area requires both physical initiatives on ground
to exploit the opportunities available to Pakistan under
the Indus Water Commission as well as better legal
preparations while contesting anything under the
dispute resolution mechanisms allowed in the Treaty.
Manifestos of the political parties have broadly
discussed terrorism and related issues yet except for
MMA this has not been touched in Pakistan-India
context, while India most frequently raises this issue.
Countering the Indian narrative of terrorism at
international level and Indian sponsorship of terrorism
at domestic level, is and would continue to be a
challenge for new government in Pakistan.