Jaishankar framing India’s counter to Pakistan offensive

NEW DELHI: Upping the ante ahead of a likely high-decibel showdown with Pakistan at the United Nations next week, foreign minister S Jaishankar said India’s position on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was clear and it expects to have “physical jurisdiction” over the territory one day.Jaishankar’s comments at a media interaction on Tuesday are the latest in a string of similar statements that suggest that the “status” of Jammu & Kashmir is now off the table in any discussion with Pakistan and what seemed to be political rhetoric is settling into a newer and more distinct diplomatic stance. “Our position on PoK is, has always been and will always be very clear. PoK is part of India and we expect one day to have physical jurisdiction over it,” Jaishankar said. Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah reiterated the position while speaking in Lok Sabha.Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah reiterated the position that “PoK is part of India” while speaking in Lok Sabha on the decision to abrogate the special status of J&K under Article 370 . He was followed by defence minister Rajnath Singh and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu speaking in the same vein apart from more junior figures like MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh.The foreign minister seemed to be framing India’s pushback against the expected Pakistani offensive with PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan due to address the UN General Assembly. The blunt articulation underlines the Indian position that creation of two UTs of J&K and Ladakh is India’s internal matter and there is no going back on the decisions.Jaishankar said the main issue in the ongoing tensions was not India’s decision to revoke J&K’s special status but Pakistan’s reluctance to dismantle its terror infrastructure. At his first presser after becoming foreign minister — on the completion of 100 days of the government — he reiterated India’s position with the “physical jurisdiction” phraseology. His comments were seen by many as a sign that what initially seemed like political commentary could be coalescing into a concerted effort to apply pressure on Islamabad on the issue.Jaishankar yet again ruled out dialogue with Pakistan until, he said, it became a “normal” nation. He also said there was no need to worry too much about what people were saying on Kashmir as India’s position had been consistent since 1972 and it would again prevail.“Article 370 is not a bilateral issue. The issue here is terror. Show me one neighbour which conducts terror as a part of its foreign policy against a neighbour. Our position is normal, rational. The abnormality is there. They are talking but actually doing nothing to check terror,” he said. “There is a growing understanding (about Pak) and there is not a single country that would say cross-border terror is not happening,’’ he said.In Islamabad, a Pakistani spokesman termed Jaishankar’s statement on PoK “inflammatory and irresponsible”, and said it was an attempt by India to divert global attention from the situation in Kashmir. Such remarks could further escalate tensions and jeopardise peace and security in the region, he claimed.