What's Good for the Gander
Though Pakistan demands that the principle of self- determination be complied with in Kashmir, it conven-iently ignores such a dem-and for Balochistan (India’s New Rules of Engagement). Moreover, the Chinese presence in Balochistan, with control over Gwadar port—and the proposed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) line cut-ting through the disputed territories of Gilgit-Baltistan—can only en-courage Pakistan to follow policies similar to the Han presence in Xinjiang and Tibet in changing the ar-ea’s demographics. It is no surprise, therefore, that Balochistan is progres-sively turning into a fester-ing wound for Pakistan, since the locals have no stakes in its administration and gain no benefits from its vast resources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of his Independence Day address has drawn the world’s attention to this contested area, which Pakistan is obviously not eager to discuss in public.
H.N. RAMAKRISHNA, Bengaluru
By making a reference to Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in his I-Day speech, Prime Minister Modi has, within two years, moved from one ex-treme to the other as far as relations with neighbours are concerned—from ‘neighbours first’ to ‘divide thy neighbour’. However, as the United States rightly pointed out, we must not read too much into this “rhetoric diplomacy”. While a weak prime minis-ter like Nawaz Sharif may be forced to indulge in such tactics because he is politically hostage to the Pakistan army, even a rela-tively strong prime minis-ter like Modi has domestic compulsions, such as elec-tions to win and adversar-ies to overcome in Kashmir.
KRISHNA BALRAJ SAHAY, Patna
After Prime Minister Modi’s reference to Balochistan in his I-Day speech, the trials of the Balochis could well acquire an international dimension. Like Nelson Mandela, who thanked India for its support in the freedom struggle in South Africa, Baloch leaders too thanked Modi for highlight-ing the Balochistan issue. Many people in Balochistan live below the poverty line and lack basic amen-ities like water, electrici-ty, roads and healthcare. Modi can’t be faulted if he lends moral and diplomatic support to Balochistan’s freedom struggle even as Pakistan had once support-ed the Khalistan separatist movement in India. Sitting in Delhi, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit shows no compunction in dedicating Pakistan’s independence day to ‘azad Kashmir’ and inviting hardline Hurriyat leaders to Iftar. India should not only ease visa restrictions for Baloch separatist lead-ers who wish to visit India, but also raise the Baloch issue in the United Nations General Assembly.
KANGAYAM R. NARASIMHAN, Chennai