June 24, 2004
 

What is common to Punjab in the 1980s, Kashmir since 1947 [and severely since 1987] and Junagadh & Manavdar in Gujarat in 2004? These are all attempts by Pakistan to lay claim to various portions of Indian territory. Punjab and Kashmir came under the garb of freedom movements. Junagadh & Manavdar seem to be Pakistan's latest attempt at dismembering India. Whether it comes in the form of a sustained low-intensity proxy war or an all out attempt at raising it at international fora remains to be seen. The Pakistani foreign affairs ministry blatantly says that India annexed Junagadh by force. With the recent thaw in relations, this is the last thing the Indian government needed. The issue must be raised at the governmental level and sorted out once and for all. Pakistan has no claim over any portion of Indian territory. Paraphrasing what Duryodhana famously said, Pakistan shouldn't get even a needle-point of Indian territory.

Labels: jammu and kashmir