Pakistan Geo-political Studies (LEC 1)

Introduction
• Geography, a Greek word from geographia, is the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of the Earth
and planets.
• Geography is the study of the world and the distribution of life on earth, including human life and the effects of human
activity.
Branches of Geography
• Geography is often defined in terms of two branches: Physical geography and human geography.
• Physical geography is concerned with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like
the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.
Political Geography
Political Geography is a sub discipline of Human Geography.
• The primary concerns of the sub discipline can be summarized as the inter-relationships between people, state, and
territory.
• Political geography adopts a three-scale structure with the study of the state at the center, the study of international
relations (or geopolitics), and the study of localities.
What is Geopolitics?
• Geopolitics is the study that analyzes geography, history, and social science with reference to international politics.
• It examines the political and strategic significance of geography, where geography is defined in terms of location, size,
and resources of places.
• Geopolitics is the study of the effects of geography (human and physical) on politics and international relations.
International Relations
• International relations are simply concerned with the interrelationships between different state and non-state political
actors.
• As well as the political, economic, and social structures and processes transpiring in the international landscape.
• The interactions between different political actors such as sovereign states, international governmental and non-
governmental organizations, and multinational corporations, among others.
• (Non-state Actors: organizations and individuals that are not affiliated with or directed by or funded through govt. e.g.,
corporations, private financial institutions, NGO’s, paramilitary and armed resistance groups).
Difference between Geopolitics and Political Geography
• Geopolitics examines how geography shapes politics while political geography is about examining how politics shapes
geography.
• Both geopolitics and political geography are closely related.
• They represent two ways of looking at the same thing.
Scope of International Relations
• The scope of IR is comprehensive because it takes into consideration other fields and concepts.
• Such as globalization and internationalization, society and culture, comparative religion, environmental studies and
ecological sustainability, business management, international trade, diplomacy and foreign policy, terrorism and
organized crime, and national and international security, among others.
• Geopolitics and political geography are also under the scope of international relations.
In a Nutshell:
• Geopolitics focuses on political power linked to geographic space.
• Such as territorial waters and land territory in correlation with diplomatic history.
• Geopolitics in a general sense is used as a synonym for international political relations.
Importance of Pakistan
• Pakistan is the 33rd largest country by area.
• Fifth most populous multiethnic country of South Asia.
• In the north-western part of South Asia.
• Pakistan has a rich diversity of mountains, plains, deserts, forests, and plateaus.
• It has coastal areas of the Arabian Sea in the south.
• Pakistan possessed 5 out of 17 highest peaks of the World.
• Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass are traditional migration routes for conquerors.
• The Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved international border crossing in the world.
• In the southwest, Pakistan bordered Iran which is in middle east.
• In the northwest, Pakistan bordered Afghanistan which is semi–Central Asian country.
• On the north, Pakistan bordered China which is in East Asia.
• In the east, Pakistan bordered India which is in South Asia.
• On the south is Arabian sea where Pakistan shares sea with Iran and Oman.
• Pakistan’s longitudinal geography allows it to connect with the Arabian Sea at its south, and touches with land locked
Central Asia at its north.
 • At the north-eastern and eastern sides, Pakistan has two giant states:
• China and India — two states with the world’s biggest populations and both harboring regional ambitions, both are
nuclear powers.
• Pakistan is nearly in the middle of the Islamic block, which runs from Indonesia in the east to Morocco in the west.
Geographical Importance of Pakistan (Imp for paper)
• Pakistan lies in one of the most strategic geographical positions in the world.
• It has borders with 4 countries out of which, 2 are nuclear powers i.e., India and China.
• An ex-Superpower was in its neighborhood.
• Pakistan is bridge between energy efficient and energy deficient states.
• Pakistan's geopolitical importance is underestimated, though it is an important factor in the stability of South and
Central Asia.
• Neither a resolution to the Kashmir conflict nor lasting peace in Afghanistan will be possible without Pakistan’s role.
Kashmir
• Jammu and Kashmir are the Alsace and Lorraine of South Asia.
• Ever since Indian and Pakistani independence, this issue has been at the epicenter of political tensions in South Asia.
• Its majority Muslim population has strong symbolic importance for Pakistan.
• Pakistan is bridge between South Asia and West Asia.
• It is between Energy abundant and Energy deficient States e.g., Iran-Afghanistan and India-China.
• Provide route to China to Arabian Sea.
• China wants to develop its largest province Xinjiang, which is 4500 km away from Chinese ports and Gawader is 2500
km away.
• Pakistan has been hub of activities of great powers since its birth.
• First to contain Communism.
• Then to Contain Soviet Union from Afghanistan.
• Ally of US in War on Terrorism.
• Now part of Chinese BRI.
• Pakistan offers CARs the shortest route of 2600 km. as compared to Iran (4500 km) and Turkey (5000 km.).
• CARs and Afghanistan both are land locked and Pakistan provide shortest route to Sea.
• Due to geographical location, Pakistan is a transit economy.

2nd Lecture) Elements of Geopolitics, Importance of Geopolitics in Contemporary World, Theories of Geopolitics
World is Physical Space: (MAP in slide)
Geopolitics transform it in political space: (MAP in slide)
Geopolitics is…
 Distribution of Physical space into Political space
 Different actors have the power to enforce and maintain this distribution—Babylonians, Persian, Greeks, Romans,
Muslims, Portuguese, Russians, French, British, American----
 Power of distribution shift from one actor to other
 Then redistribution of space by new powerful actor
 Careful study of geopolitics provides insight into current events and leads to accurate predictions of future events.
 In other words, understanding geopolitics is one pathway to investment/ management success.
 Geopolitics also studies the constraints imposed on a nation by its natural resources, its ease of access to the outside
world, and its internal transportation systems.
 If a state has limited access to natural sources of energy, then a constant concern will be how the state can get energy
sources and what must be exchanged for that access.
 Landlocked states have fewer natural trading partners than those that have access to seas and oceans.
 Geopolitics also considers the cultures and histories of nations and even people within nations.
 Alignments and differences between cultures are hundreds of years in the making and their inertia allows for a high
level of predictability in analyses.
 Relationship between India and Pakistan.
 Muslims ruled India for more than 1200 years.
 Hindus wanted undivided India.
 Pakistan was established against Hindu wishes, thus animosity against Pakistan is obvious.
 Same is the case with British crown, they took control of India from Muslim rulers.
 They feared and hatred Muslims more than Hindus.
 They took revenge by unjust partition of India.
 Geopolitics also relies on understanding a nation’s basic needs.
 Due to different basic needs, different countries have different national agendas.
 Basic needs of Russia include its famous need for access to a warm-water port.
 Europe need energy to heat homes during its long winters.
 Europe relied heavily on Russian natural gas.
  Our planet is divided off into separate national units.
 Although countries and empires have existed since Mesopotamia and Rome, it has just been recent that everything has
been divided into states and political entities.
 This concept has been accepted as the norm.
What do you mean by Borders?
 Border is a line separating two countries or administrative divisions/provinces.
 Borders are geographical boundaries, imposed either by geographic features such as oceans, mountains or by arbitrary
groupings of political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities.
 Borders determine how far a government's power reaches.
 An international border delineates the space between sovereign states.
 Which cannot be impeded by other governments.
How are Borders formed?
 Political Borders are established through warfare, violence, colonization, or mutual agreements, these agreements are
called boundary delimitation.
 Land is also traded or sold peacefully.
 International boundaries are usually created through legal treaties between governments and are not easily changed.
 Internal boundaries are those within a country and are primarily administrative.
 Inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and completely unguarded.
Difference Between Delimitation and Demarcation
 A physical boundary is a natural barrier between two areas. Rivers, mountain ranges, oceans, and deserts.
 Delimited boundaries are drawn on a map.
 Demarcated boundaries are identified by physical objects, like walls, signs, and fences.
Political Entities: The political entities include nations, states, nation-states, stateless nations, multinational states, multistate
nations, and autonomous regions.
Nation: A nation is a group of people who have a shared culture and history, a common ethnicity, language, religion etc.
Examples: Pakistani, Indian, Kurds, Palestinians, Basque, etc.
State: A state is a space that possesses: a permanent population, a defined territory and government capable of maintaining
control over its territory and maintaining international relations.
Sovereignty: is the state's right to maintain its own affairs. An example is the refusal of outside interference and the right to make
its own policies and laws.
Nation-state: A nation-state is a country that is inhabited mostly by one group of people. A good example of a nation-state is
Japan, where 99% of the population is ethnically Japanese.
Stateless Nation: there can be thousands of these, no official borders or sovereignty. Palestine, Tibet, Basque are all state less,
the largest stateless nation by population are the Kurds (30 million people spread in 6 countries).
Multi State Nation: people with a shared culture and spread over several states, examples are Koreas, Afghanistan, African
states so on.
Multi-national State
 Spain is a multinational State with four major ethnic groups: Basque, Galician, Castilian, and Catalan. Other minor
ethnic minorities exist as well: Andalusian, Gitanos, Levante, Magyars, and Jews.
 Switzerland a multinational state with four official ethnic groups: German, French, Italian, and Romansh, while
German, French, Italian, and Romansh are all national and official languages.
 Belgium also a multinational state, Belgians are made up of two main linguistic and ethnic groups; the Dutch-speakers
(called the Flemish) and the French-speakers (Walloons), as well as a third tiny but constitutionally recognized group
from two small German-speaking areas.
 The concept of the modern nation-state began in Europe.
 Anti-Colonialism and Anti-imperialism led to the spread of nationalism and influenced contemporary political
boundaries.
 At the time of the Declaration of Independence of the United States in 1776, there were only about 35 empires,
kingdoms, and countries in the entire world.
 After World War II, in 1945, there were approximately 70 countries.
 Decolonization creates many independent states.
 The collapse of Yugoslavia and the USSR (both created multiple new states).
 Today there are 195 states (according to the United Nations statistics).
 Geography provides almost unshakable advantages and disadvantages for nations.
 Geography also either blesses or curses nations with neighbors.
Lecture 3) Theories of Geopolitics
Main Thinkers of Geopolitics:
 Karl Haushofar (German) is known as the Father of Geopolitics. He combines geography, history, economics,
demography, political science, and anthropology into a new discipline that came to be called Geopolitics.
 However, in 1899 Rudolf Kjellen (Swede)first time used the term Geopolitics.
 Alfred Mahan(American), Friedrich Ratzel (German), Halford John Mackinder(Britisher), Nicholas
Spykman(American)— gave important theories of ‘geopolitics’.
  They have been commonly associated with early imperialist or classical geopolitics.
 Their main contributions on the subject were written between 1890 to World War II (1939-1945).
Alfred Mahan (1840-1914):
 Over the past hundred years, geo-politician has proposed theories depicting how to control the world from geographical
perspective:
 The "Sea Power" theory raised by Alfred Thayer Mahan from the U.S. believed those who controlled the sea would
control the world.
 Mahan believed that national greatness was inextricably associated with the sea—and particularly with its commercial
use in peace and its control in war.
 He proposed six conditions required for a nation to have sea power:
 Advantageous geographical position;
 Serviceable coastlines, abundant natural resources, and favorable climate;
 Extent of territory-means any large tract of land; region; district.
 Population large enough to defend its territory;
 Society with an aptitude for the sea and commercial enterprise; and
 Government with the influence and inclination to dominate the sea.
 Mahan distinguished a key region of the world in the Eurasian context, stretching from Asia Minor to Japan.
 In this zone independent countries are – Turkey, Italy, Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Libya, Palestine,
Lebanon, Persia, Afghanistan, China, and Japan.
 Mahan regarded those countries, located between Britain and Russia, as if between "Scylla and Charybdis". Of the two
monsters – Britain and Russia.
 Scylla(scella) (a six head monster in Greek mythology) and Charybdis(cheribdes) (a whirlpool, fast rotating water): to
choose the lesser of two evils.
 Countries of Asia Minor: Italy, Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Israel and Lebanon.
 Mahan was impressed by Russia's transcontinental size and strategically favorable position for southward expansion.
 Therefore, he found it necessary for Britain to have "sea power" to resist Russia.
Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904):
 He is a nineteenth-century German geographer, developed the organic theory.
 He stated that the state is organic because he believed that political bodies, such as countries, behave in a way similar
to that of living organisms.
 In order to survive, a political body must grow and absorb new land or die.
 The more it grows, the healthier it can be.
 This is also known as Lebensraum, means “living space.”
 German rulers and specially Adolf Hitler used Lebensraum to justify the expansion and acquisition of extra territory for
Germany by any means necessary.
Halford John Mackinder (1861-1947):
 Mackinder, a Britisher, developed the Heartland theory in his 1904 essay, “The Geographical Pivot of History.”
 He believed those who control Eurasia would control the world.
 Mackinder's concepts opposed the notion of Mahan about the significance of sea power in world conflict.
 Mackinder saw navy as a basis of Colombian era empire (roughly from 1492 to the 19th century), and predicted the
20th century to be domain of land power.
Nicholas John Spykman (1893-1943):
 Spykman disagreed with Mackinder and proposed the Rimland Theory in 1942.
 Rimland theory believed that whoever controls the rimland (Inner marginal crescent) comprised of Europe, North
Africa, West Asia, India, South East Asia, and part of China will control the world island.
 Similar world domination strategy as developed by Mackinder, but Spykman, included the coastal areas as key to
control the world island.
 According to Spykman, lack of maritime power in the heartland undermined Eurasia’s ability to dominate global trade.
 Spykman largely conceived the rimlands as the United States and coastal Western European powers who controlled the
Atlantic Ocean.
 The Second World War and Cold War seemed to reinforce Spykman’s argument.
Heartland vs Rimland:
 Heartland theory believed that whoever controls the heartland (Siberia to central Asia) will control the world islands.
 Rimland theory believed that whoever controls the rimland (Inner marginal crescent) comprised of Europe, North
Africa, West Asia, India, South East Asia, and part of China will control the world islands.
 Heartland theory gave the importance of landlocked areas which are inaccessible from the sea whereas rimland theory
believed that sea power that has larger coastal areas are more powerful in terms of resources and military movement
because of easy access to the sea.
 Heartland theory was accepted mostly during world war times whereas rimland theory was most famous in the cold war
era and is still relevant.
Example of Afghanistan:
  Mackinder developed his heartland theory in response to the 19th century competition between Great Britain and
Russia.
 This contest was characterized as the Great Game played out in Central and South Asia.
 This period included the first and second British-Afghan Wars and further emphasized Afghanistan’s historic role as the
crossroads of empires.
 Based on changed geopolitical dynamics since 2001, (Afghan Invasion) Mackinder’s theory provides a valuable prism
through which to view renewed great power competition in Central and South Asia.
 Here Russian and Chinese interests intersect, (Afghans in CPEC) and also where the US is seeking to retain hard-won
but fragile influence.
 This highlights that the Great Game never stopped, it just changed characters.
 Eurasia’s geopolitical importance is still relevant.
 All the thinkers and Geo-politicians gave their theories to control Eurasia along with African continent
 The domination by a single power of either of Eurasia's two principal spheres—Europe and Asia—remains a good
definition of strategic danger for America.
 For such a grouping would have the capacity to outstrip America economically and, in the end, militarily.
 The main interest of the American leaders is maintaining the balance of power in Eurasia.
The balance of power theory in international relations suggests that states may secure their survival by preventing any one state
from gaining enough military power to dominate all others.
Lecture 3) part 2 Pakistan’s Role during Cold War (1947-1991) , Pakistan’s alliance with USA , Pakistan’s position
towards USSR
What is Cold War?
• A state of political tension and rivalry between the two power blocs– the USA and the USSR.
• An ideological war, the struggle between Communism and Capitalism.
• Create an ‘Iron Curtain’.
• Divided not only Europe but the World.
• Not a full scale war.
• Open warfare was avoided and undesired.
The era of Cold War (1945-1991):
• Involves all Communist and Capitalist states.
• Each bloc showed its muscles and checked the global power of other.
• Cold War was also characterized by large military forces and arms race including nuclear arsenals and space war.
• Interventions by both superpowers in Europe, Asia and Africa.
• Use propaganda tactics, espionage, threats, sanctions etc.
WWII ended with use of Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
• WWII ended in 1945.
• US and USSR retained power.
• Create allies, enhanced their sphere of influence.
• Truman Doctrine to support free World.
• Turkey and Greece were the first to receive economic aid.
Key events of Cold War:
• Space Race, landed on moon and Sputnik satellite.
• Race of nuclear weapons.
• NATO and Warsaw Pact.
• Marshal Plan and Molotov Plan.
• Korean war (1950-53), to contain Communism.
• Vietnam war (1959-75).
• U-2 incident (May 1960).
• U-2 spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers
• Berlin blockade (1948-49).
• Berlin Wall 1961.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).
Afghan invasion by Soviet troops in 1979:
 Afghan invasion by Soviet troops in 1979.
 Both sides funded revolutions, insurgencies, political assassinations.
 Cold War ended with the fall of Soviet bloc in 1989.
 The dismemberment of Soviet Union in 1991.
 Cold War ended but it still affects modern Geopolitics.
 Pakistan is a South Asian country, with great geo-strategic importance.
 It lies at the cross-roads of the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia.
 In the early cold war period, both the superpowers – US & USSR were in search of allies.
 To weaken each other and to raise the number of their allies.
 They picked allies from the Middle East, South-East Asia and South Asia.
  Pakistan faced severe economic difficulties after partition:
 Because of unfair distribution of British India’s economic assets.
 A large number of refugees.
 Denial by India of its share in military hardware and financial assets.
 Pakistan was thus vulnerable both economically and strategically.
Rehabilitation of millions of people?
 The Indian ruling elites, did not accept the fait accomplish of partition, since independence adopted a systematic policy
of weakening Pakistan.
 Indian leaders openly stated that sooner or later Pakistan would be merged in ‘Greater India’ or ‘Akhund Bharat’.
 Therefore, Pakistan’s security was undoubtedly threatened by its eastern neighbor.
 Afghanistan its neighbor on the west had also been openly hostile towards the newly born country, claiming the latter’s
some territory as part of its own territory.
 Owing to this vulnerable scenario Pakistan for its survival, needed a strong ally and friend.
 The US which suffered no physical destruction during the war, had emerged economically and politically strong.
 The US sent messages of good wishes on the convening of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan (August 10,
1947).
 US President Truman and Secretary of State George C. Marshall on 14 August 1947, sent congratulatory messages to
the Pakistani leadership.
Relations with US:
 Those diplomatic overtures demonstrated that the US fully recognized the strategic importance of Pakistan.
 In contrast, the other superpower sent a welcome message at the birth of Pakistan one month later.
 The US at that time did not want to lose the opportunity of cultivating friendship with the post-colonial countries of
Asia.
 After the WWII, both the superpowers were engaged in a tussle to draw Europe into their respective spheres of
influence.
 Eastern and Central Europe, including East Germany became satellite states of the Soviet Union.
 West Europe, having the same political and economic ideals as the US, entered into an alliance with the US.
 West Europe became a staunch ally in the American efforts to contain Communism.
 The triumph of the Communists in China in October 1949, the next door neighbor of India and Pakistan.
 Diverted US attention to Asia and enhanced the importance of Pakistan.
 In June 1950 North Korea, where Communists had taken over, imposed a war on South Korea.
 This whipped up fears that the Communists would expand the war to other vulnerable countries.
 The US realized the geographical importance of Pakistan.
 Pakistan, saw itself as a natural ideological foe of the Communists.
 India fostered the Non-aligned policy.
Policy of Containment:
 US implemented the policy of containment in Asia.
 It formed a network of alliances in the region.
 Extended economic assistance to the countries open to American influence.
• US realized that Pakistan’s location is ideal for air operations.
• To keep an eye on its foes.
• The Russian Federation, nor its predecessor, the Soviet Union were Pakistan’s immediate neighbor but very near to
Pakistan’s northern borders.
• Pakistan came into being to give a homeland to the Muslims of the subcontinent, so that they could live according to
the tenets of Islam and freely practice their religion.
• The then Soviet Union was a Communist state, thus ideologically both the states were poles apart.
• The leaders only portrayed the God less ideology of Communism, although it is an economic system.
• On the other hand: At the time of independence Moscow feared that Pakistan, have geographical proximity with Soviet
Muslim Central Asia and also ethnic and historic ties with the nationalities in this Soviet region.
• The Soviet Union feared the formation of a Muslim belt including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Central Asia and Turkey.
• The Muslim background of the Central Asian Republics was a disturbing factor.
• The formal relations between Pakistan and the Soviet Union were established after nine months of independence on
May 1, 1948.
• In the early days due to immense problems after independence e.g. Security issues, lack of resources, inadequate
military capability, etc.
• Only the US which had emerged as a superpower, had friendly relations with Pakistan, was in a position to help
Pakistan both economically and militarily.
• The US did not suffer destruction during the Second World War and preached democratic principles.
• The Soviet Union on the other hand had been ravaged by the War, was economically weak and espoused Communism,
a Godless and totalitarian ideology.
• Pakistan openly adopted an anti-Communist foreign policy.
 • In 1951 the government accused and banned the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP), for conspiring against the
government.
SEATO & CENTO:
• In 1954 Pakistan joined the US led Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Along with the US, UK, France, New
Zealand, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand.
• In 1955 Baghdad Pact was signed. Members were Iraq, Iran, Britain, Turkey and Pakistan.
• Iraq withdrew from the Pact in 1958 and the Pact became Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in 1959.
• For promoting shared political, military and economic goals.
• The main purpose was to contain Communism.
• Pakistan left SEATO in 1973 and CENTO in 1979.
• Due to US support to India.
Relations with USSR:
• Pakistan’s participation in these alliances increased the Soviet hostility towards Pakistan and Moscow vetoed every UN
resolution on Kashmir and supported Afghanistan more zealously on the issue of Pakhtunistan.
• U2 incident.
• The plane took off from Peshawar’s Badaber US Air base.
• Soviet Union threat to bombard the base along with whole city.
• Khrushchev warned Pakistan if the base used again, there would be immediate retaliation.
• After this incident Pakistan adopted a balanced foreign policy and cultivate relations with USSR.
• Pakistan signed an agreement in 1961 for oil exploration.
• In 1965 signed number of trade agreements.
• In 1965 Indo-Pak war Soviet Union remained neutral.
• Mediate in Tashkent Conference.
• Soviet premier Alexei Kosygin visited Pakistan in 1968 and 69.
• During his second visit Kosygin presented his scheme of ‘Regional Economic Cooperation’.
• The scheme includes Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan and Soviet Union.
• The scheme was known as Brezhnev’s ‘Collective Security System in Asia”.
• Soviet Union also linked the arms supplies to Pakistan with the endorsement of this scheme.
• Pakistan refused to sign.
• China which is also a Communist country and friend of Pakistan.
• Sino-Soviet split started in 1960s.
• US cash this situation.
• US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger secretly visited China with the help of Pakistan.
• In retaliation, Soviet Union signed a Soviet-Indo friendship Treaty for a period of 20 years.
• USSR also retaliated by giving full support to India in 1971 war.
• Help India in succession of East Pakistan.
• Moscow wanted to make India a counterweight against China.
• Thus provide massive arms to it.
• Z.A. Bhutto came to power in W. Pakistan and adopted Socialism and nationalization policy.
• He visited twice to USSR and restored trade and cooperation.
• Signed number of agreements.
• USSR supported the power project of Guddo Thermal Power station.
• Established Steel Mills in Karachi.
• Bilateral trade enhanced by 25%.
• In 1979 Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
• Millions of refugees came to Pakistan.
• Presence of Soviet troops also a threat for Pakistan.
• US supported the Mujahedeen via Pakistan.
• Pakistan became a front line state.
• Relations with Soviet Union became hostile.
• After the Geneva Accords in 1988, Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan.
• Soviet Union dismembered in 1991.
• 15 New Republics emerged from Soviet Union.
Lecture 4 & 5) Pakistan in Post Cold War Era(1991-2001), Pakistan after 9/11 (2001-Present) , Fluctuating Relations with
US ,Progress in Relations with Russian Federation
Post-Cold War Era
• The post-Cold War world had two phases.
• The first lasted from Dec. 31, 1991, until Sept. 11, 2001.
• The second from 9/11 until now.
Events in Initial Era of post-cold war
• 1991 was an extraordinary and defining year.
• The Japanese economic miracle ended.
 • China inherited Japan's place as a rapidly growing, export-based economy.
• The Maastricht Treaty was formulated, creating the structure of the subsequent European Union.
• A vast coalition dominated by the United States reversed the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
• US got bases in major Middle Eastern countries and send its troops.
In the early phase:
• US emerged as a political and military power.
• The US, after defeating Communism, made its goal to reshape the Islamic world through military action.
• China and Europe focused on economic matters.
• After the initial phase three Great Powers the United States, China and Europe emerged as economic powers.
• US has all three powers– Economic, Political and Military.
• Thus, three things defined the post-Cold War world.
• The first was U.S. power.
• The second was the rise of China as the center of global industrial growth based on low wages.
• The third was the re-emergence of Europe as a massive, integrated economic power.
• Meanwhile, Russia, the main remnant of the Soviet Union, reeled.
Other post-Cold War Events
• Fall of Berlin Wall.
• Fall of Yugoslavia, bloody split.
• Split of Czechoslovakia, peaceful split.
• Independence of Kosovo.
• North Korea remain Communist and undeclared Nuclear power.
• Russian Federation the successor of USSR, possessed all Nuclear arsenals and UNSC’s seat.
• China replaced the USSR as World’s second largest economic and military power.
• Clash of Civilizations– Islamic terrorism.
• Creation of Al-Qaeda and ISIS/Daesh
• Taliban Government in Afghanistan (1996-2001).
Pakistan’s Relations with US
• When the situation in Afghanistan was under control of US.
• Pakistan was not needed as Front line state.
• In 1985, the forgotten Pakistan’s Nuclear Program was on forefront.
• US introduced Pressler Amendment in 1985, which called for an yearly confirmation by US President that Pakistan did
not have a Nuclear design, for further aid.
• Pakistan’s help was still crucial.
• Afghan War was not won thus the Reagan Administration gave yearly confirmations.
• In 1988 Geneva Accords.
• Soviet withdrawal.
• Pakistan was not needed any more by US.
• Pakistan’s geostrategic importance greatly shrank with the end of Cold War.
• US repeatedly asked Pakistan to roll back its nuclear program.
• US imposed sanctions on Pakistan.
• Refused to give F-16 War Planes, Pakistan paid the price in advance.
• When Pakistan took real initiatives to banned the radical organizations( Mujahideen), sanctions were partially removed
in 1995.
• F-16 and their spare parts were delivered.
• In 1998 India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests.
• US imposed sanctions on both of them.
• In 1999, due to military coup in Pakistan, US imposed sanctions and IMF withheld loans approved in 1997 for
Pakistan.
• Al-Qaeda was formed.
• Preparation of 9/11.
• On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda.
• Hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks in the US.
• Two of the planes were flown to World Trade Center in New York.
• Third plane hit the Pentagon.
• The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
• Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
• The attacks triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism.
• Taliban Government accused for supporting Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama Bin Laden.
• Operation Enduring Freedom, the American-led international effort to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and
destroy Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network based there, began on October 7, 2001.
• Pakistan again became front line state.
 • US officials introduced a bill in 2001 to lift all the sanctions, previously imposed on Pakistan under Pressler and Glenn
amendments.
Pakistan’s Policy after 9/11
• Pakistan joined the US war on terror and fulfilled its demands.
• Provide bases, airspace and logistical and intelligence support to attack Afghanistan.
• US attacked on Taliban’s Afghanistan, and
• Pakistan was a staunch supporter of Taliban.
• But Pakistan provided its bases to attack Taliban.
Benefits
• The debt Pakistan owed was slightly eased.
• Military and economic aid was revived.
• IMF enhanced its budget for Pakistan.
• Pakistan was given modern weapons- C-130 Air crafts, P-3C Orion, Cobra helicopters etc.
• US in 2003 officially forgave $1 billion worth loan .
• In 2004 Pakistan became major non NATO ally,
• Making it eligible, among other things, to purchase advanced American military technology.
Mistrust
• In War on Terror, both Pakistan and US criticize each other’s strategy.
• US accused Pakistan of harboring Taliban, Osama bin Laden.
• While Pakistan accused US of not controlling the porous border of Afghanistan.
• Drone strikes in Pakistani territory since 2004 which sabotage its sovereignty.
• The US Army in an air strike in 2008 killed 11 paramilitary soldiers of Pakistan Army Frontier Corps, along with eight
Taliban.
• Pakistan fiercely reacted on the act.
Deterioration of Relations
• In 2009 US passed Kerry-Lugar Bill, which invited controversy and criticism.
• The bill attached certain conditions for granting $7.5 billion of non-military aid.
• Raymond Davis incident in January 2011, who was an American spy.
• In May 2011 Operation Neptune Spear by US Navy Seal, killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad.
• Pakistan was not informed for this operation.
• NATO attack on Salala check post in November 2011, killed 28 soldiers.
• As a result, Pakistan ordered US army to evacuate Salala air base which was being used to launch offensive on Taliban
and militants.
• Pakistan also halted NATO supplies for Coalition Forces.
• In retaliation the US slashed its assistance to Islamabad by more than half and threatens further reductions if it fails to
open supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan.
• Dr. Shakeel Afridi, who was working with CIA and gained DNA of Osama Bin laden from Abbottabad.
• Sentenced to 33 years in prison on May 30, 2012 for aiding banned militant group Lashkar-e-Islam and not for his
links to the CIA.
• The US Senate cut further aid to Pakistan by a symbolic $33 million – $1 million for each year of jail time handed to
Shakeel Afridi.
• Dr. Afridi’s issue remained to be solved.
Revival of Relations
• US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized for Salala Base incident.
• After seven months of closure, Pakistan agreed to reopen key supply routes into Afghanistan on July 3.
• On August 2, Pakistan received $1.1 billion dollars for the cost of counter-insurgency operations.
• The first installment of its kind since December 2010.
• Drone attacks on Pakistan’s territory to kill militants since 2004.
• Pakistan’s sovereignty was at stake.
• In August 2012 Pakistan lodged its first formal protest over drone strikes.
• When Pakistan raised the voice against the measures that violate the sovereignty of Pakistan.
• Then, Pakistan became the problem(terrorist), not the solution.
• In 2009 US launched AfPak Strategy.
• Pakistan was viewed as a part of the problem as it is part of the solution.
Af-Pak Strategy
• US designate both Afghan-Pak as single theatre.
• For US, al-Qaida is present in Pakistan and actively planning to attack US, thus Pakistan needs our help against al-
Qaida.
• US passed Kerry-Lugar Bill to direct support $ 1.5 bn. yearly for the next five years, to Pakistani people.
• No blank cheque to Pakistan, Pakistan must demonstrate to root out Al-Qaida in its borders to receive increased aid.
 • A new contact group formed for active regional cooperation with all the neighbors of Pakistan and Afghanistan,
including some NATO Partners, Central Asian and Gulf States, Iran, Russia, India and China for peace and
reconstruction efforts.
• US promoted India as a stabilizing force in South Asia .
• Signed strategic partnership, defense agreement and civil-nuclear cooperation agreement.
• US also announced to build a nuclear power project in India with six reactors.
• India was allowed to join Nuclear Supplier Group(NSG).
• For Pakistan it was only ‘Do more Policy’.
Relations again revived
• Relations revived in 2015, when Pakistan launched Zarb-e-Azb against militants in N. Waziristan.
• Pakistan got economic and military aid.
• However, Pakistan purchase modern weapons from US, worth more than the aid received from US.
• Pakistan suffered badly due to US War on Terrorism.
• US never recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices.
• US always blamed Pakistan for providing Uranium enrichment material and technology to Korea, Iran and Libya.
• Pakistan’s inclusion in BRI further deteriorated the relations.
• During War on Terror, US gave $7.89 bn from coalition support fund as reimbursement for Pakistan’s assistance in the
war on terror.
• $3.1 for economic and development assistance.
Pakistan’s Sacrifices
• Pakistan suffered and lost thousands of lives both soldiers and civilians( more than one lac).
• Thousands were internally displaced.
• Suicide bombings were common.
• Millions of refugees from Afghanistan.
• US never recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices.
• Since 9/11 US-Pakistan relations are centered around the war in Afghanistan.
• US blamed Pakistan for its failure in Afghanistan.
• U.S. suspended military assistance in 2018 and civilian aid reduced to about $300 million for 2022.
• US is now supporting via USAID.
• US also the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment.
• Top export destination of Pakistani products.
• In October 2022, Biden called Pakistan “the most dangerous nation”.
• If Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals were safe during height of terrorism then why not they are safe now?
• US didn’t mention India, a few months ago an Indian missile landed in Pakistan accidently.
• India hit Pakistan from the air (Abhinanden episode).
• US is using biological weapons in Ukraine.
• Blood bathed Iraq, Libya and Syria for no reason.
• Supporting Israel against Palestinians.
• The Pakistanis have the least favorable view of US compared with 39 countries in the world surveyed by Pew
organization.
• A Gallup poll showed that more than 72% of Pakistanis thought the US was an enemy rather than a friend of Pakistan.
• However, educated, professional and entrepreneurs and youth willing to attached to US.
• Yearn to visit to US to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
Relations with Russian Federation
• Pakistan was the first state to recognize the Russian Federation as a legal successor of the former USSR.
• Pakistan-Russia relations are based on new geo-political realities rather on historical relations.
• Russia’s trade interests were remained on to sell arms to India and to some extent Pakistan.
• India renewed its Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Soviet successor Russia for another 20 years in August
1993.
• Russia in the early nineties also expressed willingness to sign a similar Treaty with Pakistan, which Pakistan did not
avail.
• Russia-Pakistan relations are defined by two elements:
1) Indo-Russia relations and 2) Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan.
• Since 1995, Pakistan-supported Taliban controlled Afghanistan.
• Russia and the Central Asian states have alleged that Pakistan is involved in the infiltration of Jihadis’ in Central Asia
and the Russian Caucasus.
• Where separatist movements have caused severe problems for Moscow.
• The important developments in Pakistan-Russia relations in the post-Cold War era are high-level visits to each other
country.
• Mutual interest and concerns remained intact e.g terrorism, enhanced cultural exchanges (in the form of Russian
scholarships to Pakistani students) and economic cooperation.
 • In 1996, Russia willingly agreed to launch Pakistan’s second satellite, Badr-B , from its Baikonur Commodore for the
lowest possible charges.
• In Feb. 1999, Russia welcomed Pakistan and India for making a breakthrough in their relations with the Lahore
Declaration.
• However, criticized Pakistan for holding it responsible for the outbreak of Indo-Pakistani Kargil War of 1999.
• After 9/11 Pakistan distanced with Taliban which mend Pakistan-Russia relations.
• India involves in strategic partnership with US.
• Russia signed a Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan.
• Signed an MOU for cooperation in oil and gas sector.
• Pakistan grant access to its Gawader port.
• Pakistan supported Russia for OIC and WTO membership.
• Russia endorsed Pakistan’s bid to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
• In 2014 a defense cooperation agreement was signed.
• Russia and Pakistan signed a defense deal in 2015, included sale of four Mi-35 attack helicopters.
• Bilateral trade is increasing.
• Both the countries actively participated in war games and hold joint military exercises annually.
Pakistan’s stance on Ukraine war
• Pakistan maintain neutral position on Russo-Ukraine war.
• Refused to condemn Moscow’s action.
• Pakistan has always absent from UN General Assembly’s voting against Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Pakistan change its foreign policy recently.
• Increase defense and trade ties with Moscow.
• Pakistan inked an agreement to procure Russian crude oil at discounted price.

Lecture No. 6) Kashmir

• To divide the land between two new states.
• Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a barrister in London, with no previous experience of the problems in British India and who had
never set foot in India, was given power as final arbitrator.
• The Gurdaspur district which was contiguous to Sialkot and and it had Muslim majority on Indian wish given to India.
• There was absolutely no reason why this district should not have been given to Pakistan.
• It had four tehsils: 55 percent were Muslims in the Batala tehsil according to the 1941 census; 52 percent in Gurdaspur;
51 percent in Shakargarh and 40 percent in Pathankot.
• Except for the Shakargarh tehsil, the other three were given to India.
• Kashmir state was surrounded by the ferocious Himalayas and other mountain ranges from three directions.
• Till 16th August 1947, India had no real physical links or lines of communication with the territories that were about to
constitute India.
• In every respect Jammu and Kashmir was wholly and solely dependent for all its logistic needs on the territories that
were about to form Pakistan.
• Before the partition, Kashmir had approximately 4 million people.
• Of these, around 70% were Muslims, 25% were Hindus, and the remaining 5% were Buddhists and Sikhs.
• On August 17, 1947, it was assumed that the Gurdaspur district would be in Pakistan territory.
• But for a last minute change by Sir Cyrill Radcliffe, who drew the map of the Partition of India, the highly strategic
district included in India.
• Due to this decision India entered in Kashmir.
• Pakistani Tribes attacked in October 1947.
• India sent the Army and equipment by road to Kashmir via Gurdaspur, the only available route to the Valley.
• Before the Partition, there were 565 princely states in India.
• In the partition plan it was decided that each princely state would be given only two options i.e. either to get accede to
India or Pakistan.
• The monarch would be the final authority regarding his state's decision.
• Most Hindu rulers decided in favor of India.
• Muslim rulers decided to go with Pakistan.
• Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu monarch but majority of Kashmiris adhered to Islam.
• Junagarh was a Hindu-majority state ruled by a Muslim monarch. Although Junagarh was geographically isolated from
the rest of Pakistan.
• (However, Bengal also far away from rest of Pakistan).
• The ruler decided to become part of Pakistan.
• But Indian troops entered Junagarh on the pretext that the subjects favored being Indian citizens.
• India also crushed the sovereignty of Hyderabad.
• Nizam Hyderabad wished to be a neutral country.
• But Indians forcibly annexed Hyderabad on the basis that the subjects, again, were Hindus.
• India forced Kashmir ruler to accede to India.
 • Send its troops to occupy Kashmir.
• Kashmiris revolted against this act.
• Pakistan supported their cause.
• With the combined efforts of Kashmiris and Pakistan, one-third of it was liberated.
• Kashmir is termed as the incomplete agenda of the Partition.
• India and Pakistan fought their first battle against each other for the occupation of Kashmir.
• As a result, the valley was divided into two separate regions.
• Now, an Indian and a Pakistani-administrated one.
• According to partition plan, Pakistan claimed whole of Kashmir.
• According to Instrument of Accession by Hari Singh, Kashmir is integral part of India.
• India falsely claimed about the Instrument of Accession Indian forces stepped in before the Letter of Accession.
• Kashmir had a highly strategic location.
• It had borders with China, the then USSR and Afghanistan.
• India wanted to be connected with Central Asia, then a part of the Soviet Union, via Kashmir.
• The United Nations established a ceasefire line as part of a political agreement on holding a plebiscite in Kashmir.
• Under Article 25 of the UN Charter, both were obliged to implement the UNSCR Res. 47 (1948).
• India however, did not honor the major part of the agreement and declared on innumerable occasions that Kashmir is an
integral part of India.
• Several times violated the ceasefire line by crossing it.
• Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory not an integral part of India.
History of Kashmir
• Ever since its annexation by the Mughal Empire in 1589 AD, Kashmir has never been ruled by Kashmiris themselves.
• After the Mughals, the region was ruled by the Afghans (1753-1819).
• Sikhs (1819-46).
• The Dogras (Hindu Rajput’s) (1846-1947) until the Indian and Pakistani states took over.
• The Mughals, did nothing to alleviate the region’s poverty.
• Instead built hundreds of gardens, converting it into a luxurious summer refuge for the rich.
• The Afghans not only sent Kashmiri people to Afghanistan as slaves.
• Imposed extortionate taxes on the region’s famed shawl weavers, causing the shawl industry to shrink in size.
• Next came the Sikhs, who treated the Kashmiris “little better than cattle”.
• In 1846, the British East India Company defeated the Sikh Empire in the first Anglo-Sikh war.
• Kashmir was sold to Gulab Singh (Dogra, Hindu Rajput), who chose to side with the British in the Anglo-Sikh war, for
a sum of 7.5 million rupees to reward his loyalty.
• Kashmir was sold as if it was not the home of millions of people but just a “commodity”.
• Gulab Singh and the successive Dogra rulers, imposed further extortionate taxes on the Kashmiris in an attempt to raise
the 7.5 million rupees they had paid to buy Kashmir.
• Moreover, as a mark of their continued loyalty, the Dogra rulers catered to continue British demands for money and
muscle.
• Under the Dogra rule, Kashmiris were forced to fight in all Britain’s wars, including the two World Wars.
• The Dogra rule was the worst phase in terms of economic extortion.
• Most of the peasants were landless since Muslim Kashmiris were banned from holding any land.
• About 50-75 percent of cultivated crops went to the Dogra rulers, leaving the working class with practically no control
over the produce.
• The Dogra rulers also reintroduced the begar (forced labour) system under which the state could employ workers for
little to no payment.
• Every profession was taxed.
• Even Kashmiri Muslims were forced to pay a tax if they wished to get married.
• During the Dogra rule, Kashmiri Pandits – native Hindus of the Kashmir Valley – were slightly better off than the
Kashmiri Muslims.
• Because the administration was pro-Hindu.
• They were allowed to have more upper-class jobs and work as teachers and civil servants.
• Amongst a predominantly Muslim population, Hindus were dominated.
• The Dogra regime also replaced Koshur with Urdu as the official language in the region.
• Making it harder for the Koshur-speaking Kashmiri Muslims to get government jobs.
• During the Dogra rule in Kashmir, the resistance against the oppressive regime was shaped by class as much as
religion.
• The workers’ resistance against the Dogras kicked off as early as in 1865.
• Kashmiri shawl weavers agitated to improve their work conditions.
• The regime brutally crushed the uprising and weavers decreased from 28,000 to just over 5,000.
• However, Kashmiri workers continued to fight for their rights.
• In 1930, some young, left-wing Muslim intellectuals formed the Reading Room Party to end autocracy and oppression.
• They organized meetings in Mosques.
 • The “political consciousness” spread from the intelligentsia to the middle classes.
• Consequently, in 1931, the Dogras approved the formation of three political parties – Kashmiri Pandits Conference,
Hindu Sabha in Jammu, and Sikhs’ Shiromani Khalsa Darbar.
• Only non-Muslim groups were allowed political representation, leaving the majority of the population without an
official political party.
• Under the partition plan provided by the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir was given the options to accede to India
or Pakistan.
• The Dogra ruler at that time, Hari Singh, initially wanted Kashmir to become independent.
• But India sent its troops and forced him to join India in October 1947.
• India had no intention of protecting Kashmir’s autonomy.
• It act like another occupying imperial force and resumed the oppression of the region’s long-suffering Muslim
population.
• Nehru promised multiple times to hold a plebiscite to determine the faith of Jammu and Kashmir.
• But the promise never materialized.
Geopolitical Importance of Kashmir
• Kashmir currently falls under the control of three nuclear-power neighbors, namely China, India and Pakistan, all three
are highly populous states.
• Kashmir also borders Afghanistan, which is located at the crossroads connecting South and Central Asia.
• Central Asia is itself a geographical bridge between Europe and other parts of Asia.
• Kashmir’s geographic accessibility to Central Asia – via Afghanistan – makes the geographic positioning of Kashmir
very significant.
• Central Asia is also a vital geographic component to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and more specifically the
China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC).
• Central Asia have vast energy deposits and other natural resources, e.g. oil, natural gas, non-ferrous metals, gold,
uranium, and abundant hydropower resources – exactly what both China and India are craving.
• India too has been working on a regional connectivity project – namely the International North-South Transport
Corridor (INSTC) like CPEC.
• To create a trade route linking Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.
• Unlike China and Pakistan, India is unable to connect ‘directly by-land’ to its International North-South Corridor.
• Instead, freights from India have to sail through the Arabian Sea to reach Iranian ports, from which they proceed over
land.
• Access through Iranian ports (mainly Chabahar port) – which would require ships to travel from India to Iran, after
which containers would carry the consignments to their destinations – is time-consuming and way too costly.
• India might have accessed Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe through a direct land route through Kashmir,
parts of which are under Pakistan’s control.
• Pakistan-administered Kashmir stands in between India-administered Kashmir and Afghanistan.
• Hence, any direct access from India to Afghanistan – and then to Central Asia, Russia, and Europe – has to go through
Pakistan-administrated Kashmir.
• Kashmir’s full ownership by India cut-off Pakistan’s link with China.
Constitutional Arrangement
• A special status was given to Kashmir by Indian Constitution in 1949 through Article 370 and 35 A.
• Which guaranteed that Kashmir would have independence over everything but communications, foreign affairs, and
defense.
Importance for Pakistan
• Kashmir is the heartland of South Asia.
• It is a window for India towards Afghanistan, Central Asia & Xinjiang.
• It furnished Pakistan’s fresh water requirements.
• Indus and its tributaries flowing from Kashmir.
• The Indus Water Treaty of 1960 brokered by World Bank.
• Divided the control of Indus River System.
• Pakistan got Kashmir’s western glaciers fed rivers- Chenab, Jhelum and Indus.
• India had given eastern rivers- Beas, Ravi and Sutlej.
• India on many occasions violated the Indus Water Treaty.
• Pakistan feared if India holds whole Kashmir it must cut off its life line.
• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor goes through Kashmir as well.
• Many of the CPEC transportation projects run through the Pakistan administered Kashmir.
• Additionally, in 1963, Pakistan ceded the Shaksgam valley to China.
• This region was originally a part of Pakistan administered Kashmir.
• Some claim that this was done in order to allow Chinese military presence in Kashmir.
• Kashmir is the only direct link between Pakistan and China.
• China makes this important, both for military reasons and for economic development.
• Kashmir also have some important territories e.g. Siachen glacier.
 • Siachen glacier is the only barrier between Chinese occupied areas in Kashmir.
• Siachen is important for India’s national security over the entire northern frontier.
• West also has key military interests in Kashmir.
• Independent Kashmir must be dependent on the West and beneficial for West to expand its impact on Central Asia and
W. China.
• An independent Kashmir with Muslim majority will not be acceptable for India and China due to potential Islamic
threat.
• If India has complete control over Kashmir, it could move its troops to the edge of the border, posing a large threat to
Pakistani security.
• Losing Kashmir not only cut off access of China but also have Indian troops present very close to important cities in
Pakistan.
• This could prove devastating in the time of conflict.
• Pakistan believes it will be at the mercy of India if Kashmir is lost.
• Kashmir is a land-locked region.
• At present Kashmir is most heavily militarized zone in the World.
• 45% is controlled by India, 35% by Pakistan, 20% by China.
• Through Kashmir Pakistan blocked Indian access to Central Asia.
• India wants to encircle Pakistan through Kashmir—Afghanistan—Central Asia.
• Pakistan therefore wants a friendly government in Afghanistan.
Kashmir after August 5, 2019
• On August 5, 2019, India revoked the special status/autonomy of Kashmir granted by Article 370 and Article 35A of
Indian Constitution.
• Divided Kashmir into two Union Territories, J&K and Ladakh
• Article 370 conferred powers to Kashmir to have its own Constitution, Flag, Constituent Assembly and autonomy in
internal administration of state.
• India revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status from constitutional status to a Union Territory.
• Ladakh is identified as a separate Union Territory.
• India cut-off all communication lines, imposed curfew, fundamental freedoms and liberties seized, leadership was
imprisoned or house arrested.
• Over 10,000 Kashmiris arrested and sent to prisons in India.
• India use pellet guns and bloodshed.
• Transformed Kashmir into the largest prison on earth.
• Kashmir is a disputed territory on the UNSC agenda.
• India’s unilateral action to revoke Article 370 is illegal under International law.
• Indian claim that these actions are its internal affairs are false and a lie.
• India wants to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Under the new arrangements, no permanent resident certificate is required to purchase land in the UT.
• Previously, article 35-A of J&K Constitution, placed prohibitions on the sale of land to those who were not state
subjects.
• Jammu and Kashmir is not the only state which confers protection to the land and jobs of the local populace.
• Several other states like Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland or even recently separated Ladakh enjoy
similar constitutional protections.
• India issued 34 m fake domiciles to Hindus from all across India.
• India in a colonial like set up minimize the Muslim majority.
• Kashmir today is the most densely occupied place with 900,000 Indian troops.
• One Indian soldier for every 8 Kashmiris.
• Kashmir is now the largest prison on earth.
• Journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders are routinely beaten for reporting.
• Several Kashmiri leaders have been died in Indian custody.
• The latest order also empowers the government to declare any area in J&K as ‘strategic’.
• Thus, confiscated land for military and official use.
• This is part of the BJP’s agenda of ending J&K’s ‘special status’.
• For more than four years now, J&K has been without an elected government.
Pakistan’s Response
• Pakistan wrote a letter to UNSC to convene an emergency meeting.
• Diplomatic and trade relations are downgraded.
• All cultural exchanges were suspended.
• Samjhouta Express and other train services suspended.
• Banned to use Pakistan air-space for Indian flights.
• On August 4, 2020 Pakistan released a political map showing all Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Siachen glacier and
Junagardh in Indian Gujrat as its parts.
• In September 2020, Pakistan gives Gilgit-Baltistan status of full-fledged province.