Kashmir dominates foreign policy

New Delhi: Containing the global fallout of the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories and the revoking of Article 370 that granted J&K special status has been the main focus on the foreign policy front of the Modi government in its second tenure’s first 100 days. The government seems to have succeeded for the simple reason that there have hardly been any civilian casualties in the state as a result of firing by security forces. Overwhelming deployment of both the military and paramilitary forces has kept the Kashmir Valley largely quiet and peaceful. In turn, this is what has helped the government in somewhat successfully managing the fallout both in the Islamic World as well as in the West.

As ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar spelt out recently, “Not a single bullet has been fired. Not a single life has been lost (in firing by security forces).” This despite all-out efforts by Pakistan to fan the flames of discontent in the Valley and carry out a shrill propaganda globally.

In fact, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for his second term, his government did not invite Pakistan PM Imran Khan for the ceremony. This was perhaps an indicator of things to come. But even before the Modi  government embarked on its bold J&K move on August 5, there was some controversy.

The Pakistan PM had decided to visit the United States which needed Islamabad's help to manage an exit for US troops from Afghanistan. As though in a quid pro quo, US President Donald  Trump dramatically declared that PM Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir. This was music to the ears of the Pakistan PM who was sitting at a press conference along with the US President but the denial from New Delhi was swift and sharp. In the coming days, India made it clear to the US that there was no question of any third-party mediation on Kashmir and that this had never been suggested by it.

It so happened that just days later, the Indian government went ahead with its move on J&K. Moving rapidly, the MEA briefed envoys of not just the the P-5 countries (US, Russia, UK, France and China) but also other prominent countries, including the leading lights of the Islamic world. Mr Modi later travelled to the US and firmly reiterated the Indian position in the presence of the US President publicly. New Delhi’s cases that this was an internal matter and fell within its sovereign jurisdiction and that any talks on the Kashmir issue would have to be strictly bilateral with Pakistan and that too only if Islamabad gave up sponsoring terrorism. The US President backed off.

Much to Islamabad's chagrin, PM Modi even travelled to the United Arab Emirates to receive the highest civilian award from that country's leadership. It was humiliation for Pakistan which however found solace in its all-weather friend China. Beijing managed to successfully push for the Kashmir developments to be discussed informally by the UN Security Council but New Delhi, through its diplomatic efforts, managed to thwart  any statement being issued jointly by the UNSC members after the informal meeting.

With Russia too backing India firmly, PM Modi travelled to that country to attend the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) at Vladivostok and further cemented the time-tested strategic ties with Moscow,  even as he lavished praise on a visibly pleased Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But New Delhi's tougher test will come later this month when PM Modi travels again to the US to address the UN General Assembly on September 27. With Pakistan gearing up to once again mount a shrill campaign on the Kashmir issue, India clearly has its task cut out.