NEW DELHI: This week’s flare-up in Pakistan-Occupied-Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) is not one in isolation. The rise in voices of revolt from various parts of the country reflect decades of misgovernance and quixotic adventures by Islamabad.
As Islamabad grapples with widespread revolt for independence in Balochistan and unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the recent uproar has proved that freedom is not about just adding the word “azad (free)” to a state’s name.
Adding to the parody of governance is Rawalpindi’s (Army headquarters) interference in political and diplomatic matters, leaving the government in Islamabad helpless, and attending more to dirty tasks.
The dichotomy was evident in the developments witnessed in the last few weeks. In what could be the first instance in recent diplomacy, the Pakistan Army chief was at an exclusive luncheon meeting with the President of the United States.
A few days later, General Asim Munir was escorting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the White House for an 80-minute meeting, preceded by a 30-minute wait for US President Donald Trump to wrap up more important matters, which also included an exchange of light comments with the Press corp.
Even while his bosses were making forays into White House, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to Islamabad’s closer proximity to Beijing than Washington when the latter two “will always be at loggerheads”.
This illustrates the comedy of errors that takes place due to the Islamabad-Rawalpindi battle for supremacy that mostly leads to a tragedy, with deaths and destruction.
Amid uncertainties over governance, Islamabad has responded to the developing crisis by diverting thousands of additional troops and repression.