New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said the government is continuing the restrictions in Kashmir to ensure there is no loss of life in the Valley.
“Many of the restrictions that have been imposed are being done to ensure that there is no loss of life. We have seen how social media and the internet have been used to radicalise people,” Jaishankar said Tuesday while addressing a gathering at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think-tank.
Jaishankar said the intent behind the lockdown, which is nearing almost two months now, is “really to persevere and make sure there are enough changes on the ground” so that people’s mindset changes. That is the objective of the government, he added.
The foreign minister said there would be reactions once the restrictions are lifted. “But if we do let the development process going then Pakistan’s plans will come to naught,” he added.
The restrictions on communication and movement of vehicles in the Valley were imposed a day before the Narendra Modi government scrapped Article 370, which granted special powers to Jammu and Kashmir, on 5 August.
On Russian S-400 missile system
On the issue of New Delhi’s relationship with Moscow, the minister said he was “reasonably convinced” with the powers of his persuasion in convincing the Donald Trump administration on why India is buying the S-400 Triumf missile system. The deal is progressing as expected, he asserted.
Jaishankar also said he has been able to bring home the point with America that for India “affordability and predictability” are key to addressing the country’s growing energy demands.
“This will be a world of contradictions. You have to walk the space dexterously…We are a big energy-importing country, so for us affordability and predictability is important. So we need solutions which will work for us,” he said.
On Iran, he said: “We have a strong political and cultural relations with Iran. We operate a port in that country, which services Afghanistan.”
Also read: At UNGA, people understood Kashmir was misaligned with rest of India, says Jaishankar
Perhaps Jaishankar should visit Kashmir before venturing to comment on it
Interesting thing is Jaishankar accepts there is a lockdown , and that contradicts AMit Shah completely.
In which country in the world are civic restrictions placed on a people just to “ensure” their economic development. THis is worse than the Gujarat model.
For a nuanced, correct and unbiased analysis of Kashmir, India, Pakistan and its’ problems, a Canadian channel ‘TAG TV’ is a must watch which is available on youtube. I can safely vouch that NO Indian media house especially ThePrint, has even touched 1% of their journalistic honesty.
Even in the ‘Cut The Clutter’, Shekhar Gupta just skims over the surface on many controversial and serious topics. On Pakistan, it seems he is fearful of consequences of directly taking on its’ duplicity and terrorism. His attempts to be another ‘Indian Najam Sethi’ falls flat.
Changes intended to bring prosperity and a better life to citizens should not be received with such widespread resentment that they must be restrained so completely from movement, communication, normal life. This narrative will find traction in India, but not in the rest of the world. The global media – to the extent it both shapes and reflects public opinion in those countries – is not endorsing the official version.
Ha, ha…China-Hong Kong first, then comment on Kashmir. And resist from making a sweeping assessment of the public opinion in the West. The media in the Western world is more fixated on China’s detention camps for Uyghur muslims and its handling of the Hong Kong protests. Also, a sincere advice is that you listen to our foreign minister’s discussions at public forum in the US. Just to help you here are two links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YnGhhxop2c and https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-23/video-uyghurs-shaved-blindfolded-xinjiang-train-station-china/11537628
Indian democracy is judged by a higher standard globally than the Chinese state.
You are a fan of Indira Gandhi, as you yourself have described her as “Durga” and “Royal Bengal Tigress”. Here’s a quote by Indira Gandhi: “Sheer power seemingly prevails over principle, seeking obedience and demanding respect instead of commanding it…those who have attempted to eschew the use of force have had to pay the price of restraint” (Indira Gandhi, 1968 quoted in Singh, Z.D., (2019). Power and Diplomacy. Oxford University Press).
You can now connect the dots. Human Rights, especially when it comes to self-interest, has been frequently ignored the West. I am not supporting this lockdown, just requesting you to stop evaluating governance in India from the eyes of the West. Let’s all keep patience and thank God on this 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi that we do not have a Hong Kong like situation.
One more from Western media Sir – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU6lcXORf0c
You think you know more than the Indian Foreign Minister who has been an exceptional career diplomat and is a scholar, ashok JI?? Is he not taking questions from Western professionals in his conversation?
Ashok has to comment on everything to tell his opinion which he thinks is also the opinion of the world.
Factually incorrect. I post comments on fewer than one third of the articles / columns in Print. Restrict myself to the economy, foreign policy, some aspects of politics and governance. But I love engaging with my friend RR.