Pakistan must REFORM IMAGE to gain support on Kashmir issue : Ex Diplomats

[Stephen Cohen]

http://www.financialexpress.com/wor...form-image-gain-support-kashmir-issue/320271/

Ex-diplomats say Pakistan must reform image to gain support on Kashmir issue

Former Pakistani diplomats have said that Islamabad will have to improve its international image for its voice to be heard on the Kashmir issue....
Ashraf Jehangir Qazi pointed out that the world is not lending equivocal support to the Kashmir issue as it doesn’t like Pakistan, which is the chief advocate of the issue. (Reuters)

Former Pakistani diplomats have said that Islamabad will have to improve its international image for its voice to be heard on the Kashmir issue and that it has to try out other ways to morally and politically support the uprising in the valley.

At a discussion hosted by Pakistani think tank, Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), on Saturday, to discuss the options Pakistan has to back the latest revolts in Kashmir against the Indian authorities, (Retd.) envoy Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, who served in the US and India, said passion on its own is not enough to change history, reports the Dawn.

“We require seriousness and truthfulness. No one is going to listen to us until Pakistan corrects itself,” he said, adding that poor governance in the country was adding to the problem.

• Qazi pointed out that the world is not lending equivocal support to the Kashmir issue as it doesn’t like Pakistan, which is the chief advocate of the issue.

“We will be mistaken if we think the world will censure India because of morality and values,” he said.

Former foreign secretary Salman Bashir expressed solidarity with the thoughts of Qazi and said sincerity and truthfulness were needed in order to develop credibility.

He said statements from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the UN were also irrelevant because they did not serve to change the situation.

Director School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Ishtiaq Hussain said Kashmiris should be involved when making strategies for supporting the Kashmir cause.

“Kashmir is about its people and their aspirations and not territory, religion and culture,” he added.

SVI also presented a list of suggestions that Pakistan needs to repair its image for effectively advocating the Kashmir issue, which requires more than making inconsequential statements.

The recommendations called for greater public participation, particularly of the youth, in highlighting the ‘plight of the Kashmiris.’

It was also recommended that instead of just addressing the Indian government, Pakistan should engage with other opinion groups in India which do not necessarily share Delhi’s position on the issue.

The SVI president also called for reviewing the strategies used before for supporting the Kashmir struggle but have failed to achieve desired results.

 

[jamal18]

Pakistan has had no international support for Kashmir for the last 70 years. What's different now?

 

[Stephen Cohen]

http://www.dawn.com/news/1271518/pakistan-must-reform-itself-to-be-heard-on-kashmir-issue



ISLAMABAD: At a round table discussion on Saturday, former diplomats said Pakistan will have to improve its international standing for its voice to be heard on the Kashmir issue and that it has to try out other ways to morally and politically support the uprising in the valley.

The discussion was hosted by the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) to discuss the options Pakistan has to back the latest revolts in Kashmir against the Indian occupation, which claimed more than 40 lives and left 2,000 injured the past week.

Retired ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, who served in the US and India, said passion on its own is not enough to change history.

“We require seriousness and truthfulness,” Mr Qazi said, adding that poor governance in the country was adding to the problem.

“No one is going to listen to us until Pakistan corrects itself,” he said, adding that the world is silent on the Kashmir issue not because it doesn’t like Kashmiris, but because it doesn’t like Pakistan, which is the chief advocate of the issue.

“We will be mistaken if we think the world will censure India because of morality and values,” he said.

Quiz: Test your knowledge about the Kashmir issue

Former foreign secretary Salman Bashir agreed with Mr Qazi and said sincerity and truthfulness were needed in order to develop credibility.

“We should use social media more effectively. The younger generation should show the world Indian brutalities against Kashmiris. The ugly face of India and the hollowness of its democratic credentials need to be exposed,” Mr Bashir said.

“Lip-service” regarding Kashmir in the form of inconsequential statements was no longer an option, he added.

He said statements from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the UN were also irrelevant because they did not serve to change the situation.

Director School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Ishtiaq Hussain said Kashmiris should be involved when making strategies for supporting the Kashmir cause.

“Kashmir is about its people and their aspirations and not territory, religion and culture,” he added.

At the conclusion of the discussion, SVI presented a list of recommendations which said Pakistan needed to make reforms and to repair its image for effectively advocating the Kashmir issue, which requires more than making inconsequential statements and resolutions from Islamabad.

The recommendations called for greater public participation, particularly of the youth, in highlighting the plight of the Kashmiris.

It was also recommended that instead of just addressing the Indian government, Pakistan should engage with other opinion groups in India which do not necessarily share Delhi’s position on the issue.

The SVI president also called for reviewing the strategies used before for supporting the Kashmir struggle which have failed in achieving the desired results.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2016

 

[Indian009]

To make or break "THE IMAGE" at international level you need the decades of hard diplomatic work !!!! It can't be done in fortnight !!!!!

Like it or not world doesn't run on morals. It run on invested interests. Yes "invested". What you can offer decide your value. Economically & politically. For both India is way head now. It's hard to catch up.

And thanks to the "NON STATE" actors
Evenif nobody is going to award you " State sponsoring terrorism" as of now but your image and the current condition in your country make it hard to belive you are the "good guys"

All those who thought that the "congressional committee" on "Pakistan: foe or ally" was nothing but bunch of people babbling !!!!! They documentedly distort your image !!!!

Geographical advantage of Pak is fast becoming irrelevant ( to USA ) as They now see China as threat no 1 than Russia in past. I would bet that in next 5 years USA will be hostile to Pak.

China is Pak's friend but most of time their friendship comes in only when India is involved. And they themselves are facing Image crisis. Genuine or crafted is another subject to discuss

If I can suggest , I will say Pak should forget about Kashmir for few years. Clear your country from State non state actors, establish rule of law. Develope your economy, reach out the world for development and in dacade or so you will be in place where everybody will hear you seriously. Then try help people of Kashmir. FIRST HELP YOURSLEF. Good luck

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Lol they want Pakistan to do everything. Pakistan do this Pakistan do that. Pakistan you're doing enough. Pakistan how come you're not doing this? These people need to understand that we're not some super country.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Instead of Kashmir agitation, Qandeel Baloch murder makes headline in the world. Pakistan has enough mens to make itself unheard in important issues.

 

[Tamilnadu]

it means starting from the begining ,to give what you believed in.

Lol they want Pakistan to do everything. Pakistan do this Pakistan do that. Pakistan you're doing enough. Pakistan how come you're not doing this? These people need to understand that we're not some super country.

Its not they,its one of your.or are you saying its not possible to change the image.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

it means starting from the begining ,to give what you believed in.


Its not they,its one of your.or are you saying its not possible to change the image.

We've just cleared the the two most dangerous places on earth. What else do you want? It's not our fault the western media does not report this.

 

[Tamilnadu]

We've just cleared the the two most dangerous places on earth. What else do you want? It's not our fault the western media does not report this.

It might be job good done,people out of Pakistan are not worried or bothered about whats happening in Pakistan,they are bothered about whats coming out of Pakistan.

 

[LadyFinger]

People of Kashmir will decide what would be the outcome of their struggle. Some day if not today.
And as for what's coming out of Pakistan, guess everyone knows the history and it is also connected to the situation in middle east.

Pakistan participated in clearing what was coming out of Tamil nadu in Srilanka. This 'chor sipahi' keeps on going, only roles are changed in time.

It might be job good done,people out of Pakistan are not worried or bothered about whats happening in Pakistan,they are bothered about whats coming out of Pakistan.

 

[Tamilnadu]

People of Kashmir will decide what would be the outcome of their struggle. Some day if not today.
And as for what's coming out of Pakistan, guess everyone knows the history and it is also connected to the situation in middle east.

Pakistan participated in clearing what was coming out of Tamil nadu in Srilanka. This 'chor sipahi' keeps on going, only roles are changed in time.

Exactly my point,ltte was a proxy ,they were srllankan people we dint brainwash our people to fight in Srilanka ,or because of that no Indian we out and blew himself up or kill innocents in a third country,heck other than people in Tamilnadu ordinary people in other states in Indian dint even know what was happening in Srilanka.
Unless India stopped supporting ltte they would have been still around.

 

[ito]

It is less to do with Pakistan's image and more to do with India's raising profile.

People of Kashmir will decide what would be the outcome of their struggle. Some day if not today.
And as for what's coming out of Pakistan, guess everyone knows the history and it is also connected to the situation in middle east.

Pakistan participated in clearing what was coming out of Tamil nadu in Srilanka. This 'chor sipahi' keeps on going, only roles are changed in time.

Majority of Indians don't 'sympathise' with Kashmiri 'cause', not even Indian Muslims. Because Indians feel the 'cause' is based on faulty premises.

For a country as large as India and projected to be among top 3 countries in the world both military and economy wise, international pressures won't work, even US has limits when it comes to pressurising India. Any state in Indian union that includes Kashmir can go out of Indian union only when the rest of India let it go.

 

[LadyFinger]

That can be your personal assumption. US has other things to do, those who have the mind of taking it by hook or by crook know how to manage it. Merely a big chunk of land does not mean you can keep people under your control for unnecessary reasons. No sympathy is needed.

It is less to do with Pakistan's image and more to do with India's raising profile.



Majority of Indians don't 'sympathise' with Kashmiri 'cause', not even Indian Muslims. Because Indians feel the 'cause' is based on faulty premises.

For a country as large as India and projected to be among top 3 countries in the world both military and economy wise, international pressures won't work, even US has limits when it comes to pressurising India. Any state in Indian union that includes Kashmir can go out of Indian union only when the rest of India let it go.

 

[neem456]

To make or break "THE IMAGE" at international level you need the decades of hard diplomatic work !!!! It can't be done in fortnight !!!!!

Like it or not world doesn't run on morals. It run on invested interests. Yes "invested". What you can offer decide your value. Economically & politically. For both India is way head now. It's hard to catch up.

And thanks to the "NON STATE" actors
Evenif nobody is going to award you " State sponsoring terrorism" as of now but your image and the current condition in your country make it hard to belive you are the "good guys"

All those who thought that the "congressional committee" on "Pakistan: foe or ally" was nothing but bunch of people babbling !!!!! They documentedly distort your image !!!!

Geographical advantage of Pak is fast becoming irrelevant ( to USA ) as They now see China as threat no 1 than Russia in past. I would bet that in next 5 years USA will be hostile to Pak.

China is Pak's friend but most of time their friendship comes in only when India is involved. And they themselves are facing Image crisis. Genuine or crafted is another subject to discuss

If I can suggest , I will say Pak should forget about Kashmir for few years. Clear your country from State non state actors, establish rule of law. Develope your economy, reach out the world for development and in dacade or so you will be in place where everybody will hear you seriously. Then try help people of Kashmir. FIRST HELP YOURSLEF. Good luck

You nailed it beaitifully !

 

[JanjaWeed]

Pakistanis exactly know what needs to be done to improve their image & be heard by outside world! But that's not something they are willing to do! It would be a tectonic cultural & mindset shift, should they take the plunge!