LAHORE: Opposition leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has warned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make “no mistake”, as the Pakistan government and opposition are “united like a rock” on the Kashmir issue.

Hours before the prime minister’s homecoming to a warm welcome by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists on Sunday, Mr Sharif, who is also president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), took to Twitter and said: “When it comes to occupied Kashmir, we, the government and Opposition, are united like a rock, and unwavering in our moral, diplomatic and political support to the oppressed Kashmiris. Mr Modi must make no mistake about it.”

At the United Nations General Assembly PM Khan had highlighted the misery of the people of India-held Kashmir, which has been under curfew since Aug 5 with gross violations of human rights by the occupying Indian forces.

Perhaps to nullify what some observers say an impression of ‘nuclear blackmail’ by Mr Khan, the PML-N president in another tweet said Pakistan was a “responsible nuclear state” and that the country’s contributions to world peace were “well documented”.

PML-N, JI want multiparty moot for national consensus on strategy to support Kashmiris

Mr Sharif also underlined Pakistan Army’s role in world peace and successful efforts in eliminating terror groups from different parts of the country. “Pakistan’s contributions to world peace are well-documented. We have been one of the largest troop contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions. Our armed forces have fought valiantly against terrorists. We are a responsible nuclear state. The world must beware of fascist Modi,” read the tweet.

However, the opposition parties lamented that the government didn’t consult them before taking up the Kashmir case at the UN and wanted the government to develop national consensus on the strategy for support to the Kashmiris at least in the post-speech scenario.

PML-N general secretary Ahsan Iqbal said the opposition would be two steps ahead of the government if it made a move on Kashmir issue with national consensus.

Highlighting the case of Kashmir in the UN was a welcome step, but the outstanding dispute needed “rigorous” diplomatic efforts, he said, adding that any result of Mr Khan’s speech was yet to be seen. He also regretted that Mr Khan didn’t visit any country with the specific agenda of seeking world support on Kashmir.

Disappointed that Mr Khan could ever do inclusive politics, Mr Iqbal said had the PM convened an all-party moot on Aug 6 and issued a joint resolution against the Aug 5 action of India it would have given a strong message to New Delhi.

Mr Khan could have with him the leadership of the main opposition parties to the public meeting near the LoC, as it would have conveyed a good message to the people of Kashmir and across the world.

Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Liaquat Baloch said the prime minister raised the issue at the world forum in a forceful way but he (PM) must have developed a national consensus on the Kashmir policy before going to the UN.

In the post-speech scenario, the prime minister should give up his inflexible attitude towards the opposition and invite leadership of all the parties for framing a joint strategy for the national cause, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2019