Britain's Labour Government regarded the Pakistani army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, as a major “obstacle” to an India-Pakistan “deal” on Kashmir, WikiLeaks documents accessed by The Hindu have revealed.
A cable, dated November 28, 2008 (180571: confidential/noforn) from the U.S. Embassy in London showed that until a day before the 26/11 Mumbai bombings, the view in the British Foreign Office was that India and Pakistan were close to an agreement on Kashmir with a “text'' ready, but General Kayani was “reluctant.” He was seen as the only “remaining obstacle.”
The view was based on British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's visit to Pakistan on November 25, 2008.
A U.S. diplomat quotes Laura Hickey of the Pakistan Team of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as saying that Mr. Miliband's assessment was that there was a “deal on paper” and both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari were “ready” to sign it.
“Hickey said Miliband concluded during his trip that it was time to get a deal done on Kashmir. Zardari and Singh were ready, and there was a text on paper. Miliband thought the remaining obstacle was Pakistani military chief staff general Kayani; he remained ‘reluctant' and needed to be persuaded,” the cable said.
Ms. Hickey said Mr. Miliband had “resolved to put energy behind an Indian-Pakistan deal on Kashmir.”
“She thought the November 26 Mumbai bombings would likely strengthen his resolve. HMG [Her Majesty's Government] is nervous, however, that over-reaction on either government's part could result in a hardening of positions over military action in Kashmir, once again derailing any progress,” the cable said.
(This article is a part of the series "The India Cables" based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via WikiLeaks.)
Keywords: cable180571, The India Cables, cablegate, WikiLeaks, Indo-Pak ties, Kashmir issue, Kayani
Indeed, Shri Nehruji might have made such statement. But the People of Kashmir includes Kashmiri pandits who were made to flee Kashmir and once the anti social elements have entered kashmir, they demand freedom. We all know what will happen if it is granted. obviously it will be merged with Pakistan by leaders of Kashmir who till date have been demanding so called azaadi.
In a broadcast to the nation on 3 November 1947, Pandit Nehru said, "We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given not only to the people of Kashmir and to the world. We will not and cannot back out of it".
Did any one of the Trio ever gave any consideration to know about what the KASHMIRIS' want and what about the Chinese part of Kashmiris', are they ever included in the discussion? Or the Trio just did it Democratically among the Three of them.
Mr. Zardari is the most untrusted man in Pakistan. General perception about him is, he is a thick headed, uneducated man who hardly knows about Kashmir issue, actually he has never been involved in Kashmir matter throughout his life. He only masters in money garbing,he knows well from where and how to snatch money. He can't be trusted to decide the destiny of Kashmir's. Moreover he is no one to do that, only Kashmiris have the right to decide their destiny.
Manmohan Singh has no mandate to 'solve' Kashmir in secrecy. Pakistan must vacate illegally occupied Kashmir as it is part and parcel of India. People of India will not accept or tolerate further separation of any part of India.
Why is it surprising that a 'general' is against any settlement with India? This is what president Eisenhower warned against: the military industrial complex. Any peace with India means smaller military for Pakistan. Hence reduced role for generals. Why should they favor any deals? That will be career suicide!
Division of India was agreed by the leaders of People of British India.There was no referendum of the people of BI in this matter. Can you think what would have been result of Partiton if was put to Indian people in 1947? No division of India. Now Pakistan needs to accept the verdict of the history however unpleasant that may be for the sake of PEACE & PROSPERITY of its people and withdraw from the POK peacefully so that proper arrangement can be made for current residents of occupied Kashmir part with option to be Indian citizens for non Kashmir in the POK kashmir on a case by case basis. It will bring a new turn in the history of the subcontinent.
Miliband, Singh or Zardari ageeing on something means nothing till the PAKISTANI ARMY agrees on it.
Miliband, Singh or Zardari ageeing on something means nothing till the real owners, the people of Kashmir State as it existed on October 25 1947, are given a free choice to decide their future. That is a factual situation and right thinking human beings around the globe should not behave like dumb, blind and deaf.
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