How much the government of Pakistan is worried about completely losing hands over Kashmir, is known by the release of new political map of Pakistan on behalf of PM Imran Khan’s cabinet on Tuesday. This map shows not only Jammu and Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh as part of Pakistan but also the Junagadh and Sir Creek lines of Gujarat are included in Pakistan. Needless to say that this map has been released on the first anniversary of India’s decision to remove Article 370 from Kashmir and experts say that PM Khan’s main purpose behind this is to maintain his utility in domestic politics through Kashmir. This is the reason why many senior journalists of Pakistan have also called it a mere drama.
India too has given as much attention to this ‘drama’ as is needed. Information released by the Ministry of External Affairs says that, ‘We have seen the so-called political map issued by Pakistan PM Imran Khan. This is a step of political stupidity in which claims have been made on India’s Gujarat, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. This ridiculous claim has no legal basis nor international credibility. In fact, this new attempt reflects Pakistan’s aggressive attitude of grabbing the land of others, which they run with the support of cross-border terrorism.
This statement of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also shows the truth to a large extent. The biggest example of this is that Pakistan has in a way rejected all the legal efforts made during the partition of 1947. For example, the referendum in Junagadh has also been rejected and the Sir Creek line has also been declared as its share. A referendum was held in Junagadh in the year 1948 and 99.95 per cent of the people there decided to stay with India.
However, PM Khan of Pakistan released the new map saying, ‘This is the ambition of the Pakistani people. It has the support of the Government of Pakistan, the cabinet, the opposition leader and the Kashmiri people. With this, we have also rejected India’s illegal decision on August 5, 2019 and now it will be the official map of Pakistan. ‘
The Government of Pakistan has already announced that April 5 will be observed as Black Day. Recently the Government of Pakistan has changed the name of Kashmir Highway to Srinagar Highway and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has claimed that the Pakistani flag will be hoisted in Kashmir. Despite this claim nothing changes from this map on the ground. Now it has to be seen whether Pakistan prepares international agencies, foreign government, international companies issuing digital maps, etc., so that they can use this new map. Before Pakistan, Nepal had released its new map that showed India’s Leipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura on its part.
