Former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan faced a daunting challenge as opposition forces pushed for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. A new book by Ajay Bisaria, former High Commissioner to Pakistan, reveals that Khan resorted to calling India’s Prime Minister a fascist and mobilizing social media to launch a ferocious campaign against Hindutva. Titled ‘Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship between India and Pakistan,’ the book delves into the events that ultimately led to Khan’s downfall from power, following the abrogation of Article 370.
Bisaria’s book highlights the turning point for Khan’s tenure, as the Pakistani army withdrew its support, leaving him vulnerable. Subsequently, Khan’s government fell in a parliamentary no-confidence vote, resulting in a new coalition regime led by the Sharifs and Bhuttos. While this new coalition lacked the power to make significant changes to India policy, Khan remained a persistent presence, snapping at their heels.
The abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 by the Indian parliament further strained bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. The move revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, making it a union territory equivalent to others in the Indian union. Home Minister Amit Shah justified the decision by emphasizing that it aimed to halt the bloodshed and violence in Kashmir, asking whether waiting for 10,000 more lives to be lost before changing the status quo was acceptable.
According to Bisaria’s book, the opposition already criticized Khan for his failure to fulfill his promises regarding the Kashmir issue. In response, Pakistan sought to garner international support by raising the issue at international forums, hoping for violent pushback in Kashmir. Such bloodshed would provide Pakistan with leverage to present the matter as a concern for peace and security and human rights at international fora, like the Organisation of Islamic Countries and the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The book also sheds light on the scale of loss and spending in Kashmir, where over 40,000 lives had been lost, and USD 40 billion had been expended, ten times more per capita than the national average. Business as usual was no longer viable, and according to the book, the revocation of Article 370 aimed to rectify a longstanding historical injustice.
As the book lays bare the diplomatic turmoil between India and Pakistan, it brings forth the complex realities and motivations behind the ouster of Imran Khan from power. The events surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 have left a lasting impact on bilateral relations, highlighting the widespread ramifications of this milestone decision. Only time will tell how these nations navigate their troubled diplomatic relationship in the future.
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