EDITORIAL: Coming from a federal minister it was not only unexpected but strange - all the more so considering that it was a carefully crafted long spiel critical of the foreign ministry rather than an off the cuff remark. Speaking at a paintings exhibition about Kashmir, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari accused the Foreign Office (FO) of "letting down the Kashmiris and [Prime Minister] Imran Khan" by not taking his nuanced narrative forward, and merely resorting to traditional diplomacy. According to her, the FO was still following "obsolete and one-dimensional" approach towards the Kashmir issue. As for what could have been done better she said diplomats needed to focus on civil society and other organizations to highlight the issue. "Had our FO and those institutions that make policies on Kashmir taken it up further, today the situation would have changed. The world has not taken notice until now," she averred. Continuing, she said, "We are so much afraid that we are not pressing for investigations into human rights violations at the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC)." This is pretty serious stuff.
There is always room for improvement in matters related to foreign affairs. But this criticism is quite unfair. Indeed, sensitizing civil society about human rights violations is important but is of little help without political support. It is worth recalling that in two recent consecutive annual reports on the Kashmir situation, the UNHRC strongly censured India for its repressive measures, emphasizing the need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses, and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly expressed his concern over the prevailing conditions. Various international rights organizations, such as the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have regularly been highlighting unspeakable human rights violations in the troubled region. Yet nothing has changed because influential international players remain indifferent to the plight of the Kashmiris. Even so, helped by its trusted friend, China, Pakistan has succeeded in having the UN Security Council meet three times within a span of one year to discuss Kashmir. And only recently Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi ruffled some very sensitive feathers when he expressed disappointment over the OIC's failure to help the besieged Kashmiris, and mentioned an intention to seek individual OIC members' support. That was anything but traditional approach toward resolution of the Kashmir question. The FO may need to do more, but only the Kashmiri freedom struggle can bring about the desired change.
The Human Rights Minister may have had genuine concerns about foreign policy. She surely is aware that the right forum to air difference of opinion, especially involving sensitive issues, is a cabinet meeting not a public platform. If she still went ahead to launch a scathing attack against a cabinet colleague, that can easily be seen as something personal rather than principled. There are several other instances, however, wherein coalition partners and ministers have been at odds with one another or the stated government policy. Such contradictory and confusing voices are reflective of lack of discipline. The Prime Minister needs to put his house in order.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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