Relationships of India and Pakistan

The relationships between India and Pakistan has always been complex because of a number of political and historical events. The violent partition of British India in 1947, the Kashmir conflict and the number of military conflicts that occurred between India and Pakistan are the reasons for complex relations between these countries.

Despite numerous efforts, the relationships between these countries don’t seem to be improved as the repeated act of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan didn’t stop.

Recently after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization bill was passed, the Pakistan government has cut off their trade relations with India. As the government revoked article 370 to reform the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, this also led to the worsening of relations between India and Pakistan.

If you don’t know what article 370 then just know that article 370 of the Indian constitution gave special status to the state Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill: Revoking the article 370

Article 370 of the Indian constitution provides a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The article 370 was drafted by Sheikh Abdullah in 1947. Sheikh Abdullah was appointed as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir by Maharaja Hari Singh and Jawaharlal Nehru. Sheikh Abdullah argued that article 370 should not be a temporary provision in the Indian Constitution but the centre didn’t comply with it.

According to article 370, only some articles of the Indian Constitution were applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. However, recently on August 5th, 2019 Home Minister Amit Shah announced the issuance of The Constitution Order 2019 by the president of India which was superseded by The Constitution Order 1954. The Constitution Order 2019 stated that all the Articles of the Indian Constitution are applicable to Jammu and Kashmir and the special status of the state was revoked to form two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Pakistan’s response against article 370:

When India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan termed this action to be illegal and unilateral. They also said that they would take the matter to the UN Security Council.

In a response to The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization bill, Pakistan has decided to ban all TV commercials and films that are produced in India or including Indian artist. On Thursday, the ministry of information and broadcasting launched a national slogan “Say No to India”. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has also increased its vigilance to prohibit the sale of Indian DTH instruments.

Pakistan has suspended all its trade relations with India after the decision of revoking of article 370 was passed. The federal cabinet endorsed the decisions of suspension of trade ties with India that are taken by the joint session of parliament and national security committee.

Firdous Awan also said to media that Pakistan has also suspended importing Indian goods under the Pakistan-Afghanistan treaty. Pakistan has made decisions to suspend bilateral trades with India until further orders.

Response from the Kashmiri’s:

 It is believed by many Kashmiri’s that the BJP government ultimately wants to change the demographic character of the Muslim-majority region as scrapping of article 370 will allow non-Kashmiri’s to buy land in Kashmir.

The announcement by Amit Shah came as a shock to many, including people in Kashmir and outside Kashmir. Though there is no dispute being shown by the Kashmiri’s, Such decisions have a long term impact on the citizens. Hence it is difficult to say if the Kashmiri’s are against the government or happy with this government decision.

Effect of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill on POK:

 The day after the bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah, in Lok sabha asserted that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin are also part of Jammu and Kashmir and the Kashmir Valley is an integral part of India. Amit Shah also said that whenever it is talked about Kashmir regarding the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin are included in it.

A Rajya Sabha nominated member, Subramanian Swamy said on Tuesday that after scrapping article 370, the next agenda of the government should be to get back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

By making such decisions, Modi is clearly spreading his message of how tough BJP is on Kashmir and against Pakistan.