In another major blow for Pakistan, the UN Security Council, Poland, who currently holds the UNSC presidency, has rejected any intervention of the UNSC into the Kashmir matter, saying it is India’s internal matter and that the two parties to this issue should resolve it bilaterally.
Speaking to Indian Express, Polish ambassador to India Adam Burakowski, said, “Poland hopes that both countries can work out a mutually beneficial solution bilaterally. Poland believes that the dispute can only be resolved by peaceful means. Like the EU, we are in favour of dialogue between India and Pakistan.”
“As a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Poland stands ready, if needed, to engage in preventing actions impacting security situation. I would like to emphasize on the word ‘bilaterally’. That’s the keyword.” The same has been reiterated by the UN Security Council, which is led right now by Poland, when they rejected Pakistan’s request for intervention into the Kashmir issue.
Let it be known that the Indian government had recently abrogated Article 370, removing all the provisions that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. Apart from that, Home Minister Amit Shah also announced that Jammu & Kashmir, along with Ladakh would be divided into two separate union territories w.e.f. October 31. Incensed by India’s bold actions, Pakistan had approached many international organizations, from UNO to OIC and now UNSC, all in vain.
This decision is another shot in the arm for central government, since India has always maintained that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan, in accordance with the provisions laid out in Simla Agreement in 1972 and the Lahore Declaration in 1999. It was on identically the same grounds that the Russian government backed India’s move.
This is yet another loss for Pakistan, who has been internationally isolated ever since the Pulwama attacks occurred in February 2019. Except for Turkey, no other country has officially backed Pakistan over the issue of Article 370. Even countries like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and UAE, which have an Islamic majority, have passively supported India, with UAE even going on to say that Kashmir is India’s internal matter. To add further to their woes, even China asked the two nations to resolve the issue bilaterally, refusing to back Pakistan on this move at all.
A significant credit also goes to our present External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in this context. Ever since Pakistan sought out to internationalize the issue, S Jaishankar contacted all the important foreign delegates, including the Polish ambassador. According to the sources, the phone conversation between Jaishankar and the Polish Foreign Minister was key to framing the Polish view on Kashmir. Jaishankar had, on August 8, briefed the Polish side, on India’s position concerning the modified status of J&K.
According to the Polish Foreign Ministry statement, Jaishankar had explained that the amendment repealing ‘Article 370’ of the Indian Constitution is of “strictly internal nature” and aims at “bringing security to the region that is particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks”.
It was Subramaniam Jaishankar had emphasized that the recent amendment to the Constitution does not invoke any international consequences and aims to end the temporary situation and to create better opportunities for the growth in the region, according to the statement. As such, it is Pakistan who has to bite the dust once again on the Kashmir issue.