Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
On April 25, Pakistan’s Senate passed a unanimous resolution against India following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The resolution, which asked New Delhi to not blame Pakistan for the militant raid in Indian-administered Kashmir, was spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Senator Sherry Rehman, senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the two parties leading the government coalition in the center.
The Senate resolution came a day after the National Security Committee (NSC), featuring the civil and military leadership of the country, announced it would end bilateral trade and close airspace for India, in response to New Delhi’s own measures last week, spearheaded by the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). For the ruling alliance in Pakistan – whether the PML-N and PPP coalition government, or the hybrid regime continuing military control over the civilian rulers – the Pahalgam attack has provided an opportunity to shroud the growing cracks with a vociferous show of unity.
The faultlines, however, were evident in The Diplomat’s conversations with members of the government. Leaders of the two major parties not only underscored their reservations with one another, but also reiterated the extent of the military’s stranglehold over the regime. While there has largely been acceptance within the civilian ranks that this status quo will persist, the clashes with India have opened a can of worms owing to the resurfacing of the allegations that Pakistan is backing jihadists at a time the West is increasingly cracking down on radical Islamism.
No comments:
Post a Comment