Pakistan Daily calls Nawaz Sharif's statement on Kashmir 'wishful thinking and unrealistic'

Islamabad: A leading Pakistani Daily on Sunday describing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's rhetoric about 'accession' of Kashmir to Pakistan as 'wishful thinking' and said that such statements will invite 'more trouble' for the country.

The article comes on the heels of Sharif's statement on July 22 when he had said that Pakistan was waiting for the day Kashmir becomes its part.

Read excerpts from the article below: (Courtesy - Daily Times ) -

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a public gathering after the PML-N’s Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) electoral win, said that Pakistan is waiting for the day when Kashmir becomes its part. Such statements are nothing more than rhetoric as politicians utter these statements to win the masses’ support. It has become a norm for politicians to make unrealistic claims and repeat popular phrases for getting votes... 

...The PM’s statement has not much to do with the official stance of the state. Instead of indulging in wishful thinking, the PM needs to sit back and think with a cool mind the ways to resolve the regional issues. History shows that wars or war-like tactics do not help resolve the conflict. Rather the masses continue to suffer due to this mentality...

...Making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate. By uttering these words, in fact, the PM is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also. In this way, the relationship between India and Pakistan will remain tense...

...Instead of talking about capturing more land, government needs to make AJ&K a model state where all Kashmiris happily aspire to live. For the last 67 years, Pakistan has failed to ensure good governance in AJ&K. Not only AJ&K, many areas of the country are still facing neglect where people have no access to basic needs of life. Extending moral support to Kashmiris is good but making such statements is totally uncalled for...

Waiting for day Kashmir becomes part of Pakistan: Sharif

Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarabad, after his party PML-N swept PoK's legislative Assembly elections, Sharif had urged Kashmiris "not to forget those in Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives for their movement for freedom".

"Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed. All our prayers are with them and we are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes (part of) Pakistan," Sharif was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

Sushma Swaraj slams Sharif for 'delusional, dangerous' Kashmir dream

On the other hand, in a strong attack on Sharif, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on July 23 told him that his dream of J&K becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity".

Taking umbrage at Sharif's statement, she said in a statement that this "delusional though dangerous dream" was the reason for Pakistan's "unabashed embrace and encouragement to terrorism".

"The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a terror hell," she said.

Noting that in the last few days, leadership of Pakistan, including its PM has praised Burhan Wani, a wanted terrorist 'commander' of the banned terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, as 'martyr', Swaraj wondered did he not know that he was carrying an award of Rs 10 Lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security personnel.

P.S. - Read 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' as mentioned in the Pakistani Daily as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

(With PTI inputs)