UNITED NATIONS:Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the United Nations Friday that hiscountry's dispute with India over Kashmir could escalate into an all-outnuclear war that would have consequences for the world. In a fiery speechlasting 50 minutes, Khan said India could unleash a "bloodbath" inthe Muslim-majority territory, as the nuclear-armed rivals took center stage atthe UN General Assembly. His heated rhetoric stood in stark contrast to IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi's address an hour earlier, when the Hindunationalist leader touted domestic successes but made only an oblique referenceto terrorism.
The speechesoccurred as thousands of protesters gathered outside the UN building todemonstrate, both in support of Modi and against the clampdown in Kashmir,which has been under lockdown since New Delhi scrapped its semi-autonomousstatus in early August. Khan warned there could be a repeat of the fightingbetween the regional rivals seen in February if India blamed his country for ahomegrown militant attack in response to the crackdown.
"If aconventional war starts between the two countries, anything could happen. Butsupposing a country seven times smaller than its neighbor is faced with thechoice: Either you surrender, or you fight for your freedom till death,"Khan said. "What will we do? I ask myself these questions. We will fight... and when a nuclear-armed country fights to the end, it will have consequencesfar beyond the borders," warned Khan, whose speech was punctuated byapplause, mainly by the Pakistani delegation but at times others.
The 66-year-oldPakistani leader also accused Indian forces of preparing for a genocide oncethe curfew was eventually lifted. "There are 900,000 troops there, theyhaven't come to, as Narendra Modi says - for the prosperity of Kashmir,"Khan said. "These 900,000 troops, what are they going to do? When theycome out? There will be a bloodbath," Khan said.
India has not statedthe number of troops in Kashmir, but Khan's 900,000 figure would be theequivalent of two-thirds of the Indian army. India accuses Pakistan of arming,funding and training militants in Kashmir and says it has taken action topreserve calm. "Free Kashmir, End the Siege," read banners during thepro-Pakistan demonstration, while on the pro-Modi side protesters held upplacards hailing the Indian leader as a "visionary" and saying,"Pakistan, what about your minorities?"
Rozeena Khan, ateacher originally from Indian Kashmir, said she could not speak to her86-year-old father and was concerned for his welfare. "Kashmir is aprison, the world's largest prison right now," she said. "I feel likemy brain, my heart, is with my family there. I should concentrate on my job butI will tell you honestly, sometimes when I think, I cry at my job, I cry."
Security forcesin Srinagar, the summer capital of India's former Jammu and Kashmir state,imposed tough new restrictions on Friday, fearing protests surrounding the twinspeeches in New York. They erected concrete and razor-wire barricades as troopsin bulletproof gear guarded deserted streets following orders to stop anypublic rallies.
Khan said thatthe conditions in Kashmir were radicalizing a new generation and that hehimself would take up arms in their situation. "I've been locked up for 55days, I've heard about rapes, Indian army going in homes," he said,imagining himself as a Kashmiri. "Would I want to live this humiliation?Would I want to live like that? I would pick up a gun. You're forcing people.You are forcing people into radicalization."
StephaneDujarric, the UN chief's spokesman, later told reporters Antonio Guterres hadraised his concerns over Kashmir both publicly and privately and favoreddialogue. "He of course remains very concerned about any potentialescalation between Pakistan and India over the situation in Kashmir,"Dujarric said. Alice Wells, the top US State Department official for SouthAsia, on Thursday said that Washington is pressing New Delhi to quickly easeits restrictions in Kashmir, while also calling on Khan to dial down hisrhetoric.
India has longresisted efforts to internationalize Kashmir and Modi did not mention it in hisspeech. The Indian leader instead chose to focus on domestic policies suchimproving access to toilets and helping millions open bank accounts. He did,however, make a veiled reference to Pakistan, telling fellow leaders: "Webelong to a country that has given the world, not war, but Buddha's message ofpeace. And that is the reason why our voice against terrorism, to alert theworld about this evil rings with seriousness and outrage." - AFP