By Manisha Ghosh
Since New Delhi decided to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the regional politics surrounding the issue has escalated to the international forum. In this circumstance, an invitation for Indian PM Narendra Modi from the French President Emanuel Macron to attend the G7 summit at Paris from August 24-26th was an extra-ordinary booster for India to portray its position on the Kashmir issue.
The elite G7 summit, also known as Group of Seven, this year was organized to be held in France hosted by the French President Emmanuel Macron. Regular members of this group are France, Italy, Canada, United States, Japan, Germany and United Kingdom. However, this year, Macron invited non-member countries who are playing an imperative part in world politics, including India.
Ahead of the G7 summit, the Kashmir issue was one of the most debated and highlighted one that was supposed to be discussed by the nations. The international forum was appeared to be very concerned about India’s stance of abrogating the special status of Kashmir and simultaneously bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The matter was vehemented by the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan when he portrayed this as an international crisis and wanted the US and other countries condemn India’s act, therefore forcing them to withdraw the decision and reinstate Kashmir’s Special Status.
Days before the meet, US President Donald Trump also expressed his desire discuss the situation in Kashmir with Indian PM Narendra Modi and he also proposed to ease India-Pak tensions as he share great relation with both the nations. He also agreed to mediate in the festering Kashmir conflict and get it resolved- a matter Pakistan is asking for a long time. However, India straightway denied involvement of any third state in the Kashmir stating it as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. Definitely therefore, before the summit, India was in back-foot.
However, things took a U-turn when Donald Trump met Narendra Modi during a side-conversation at G-7 summit in Biarritz and while addressing the media, the US President Donald Trump said “We spoke last night about Kashmir, Prime Minister really feels he has it under control. They speak with Pakistan and I’m sure that they will be able to do something that will be very good.” Modi too bolstered his position about the Kashmir issue, saying “That is why we don’t bother any other country regarding them. India and Pakistan that were one in before 1947, I believe can find solutions to all our bilateral issues.” Trump later also approved that all India- Pakistan issues, including Kashmir are bilateral in nature and both the leaders can find resolution to the issues without any need of a third party. Washington also reaffirmed that there was no change in its Kashmir policy. It’s indeed a grand success for India to get the Pentagon by its side in this issue.
On the other hand, France addressed the Kashmir as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and urged them to resolve their disparities through political dialogue and refrain from aggravating tensions. Moreover, during a telephonic conversation of French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Drian recalled France’s constant position on Kashmir. He also apprised Qureshi that its India’s internal matter and Paris don’t want to meddle into it and appealed to establish peace in the region. France also remained indifferent in discussing the Kashmir isuue in the G-7 summit that states its position not to get involved in the matter.
With turmoil in internal politics, Britain is currently suffering in crisis of a stable government regarding the Brexit isuue. Two of its Prime ministers- David Cameron and Teresa May stepped down for unable to resolve Brexit. In this situation, UK received a new Prime Minister as Borris Johnson. However, UK government expressed its concerns to over the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Immediately after the revocation of Article 370, India appraised UK along with all other superpowers. UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab later on spoke Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and received clarity on India’s stand on the announcement. Though Britain’s parliamentarians are divided on this issue, UK officially never condemned India’s decision; rather they urged both India and Pakistan to maintain peace and accord.
Germany also didn’t respond harsh against India in the Kashmir issue. The chancellor Angela Merkel herself viewed this as an internal matter of India. Admitting this step as a challenge of Modi, in fact, Germany acknowledged that development plans in Jammu and Kashmir will definitely have regional ramifications. German Ambassador to India Walter J Lindner told the media “The Indian government has said that the steps taken will help in the development and all this will change. So all are watching that it changes for the better…. Germany would like New Delhi to ensure that there is no violation of human rights after the lifting of restrictions”
However, amidst this soothing breeze of autumn, Beijing expressed their concern that “unilaterally” changing the status quo might exacerbate tensions between them and India as well as with Pakistan as it voiced “serious concern” over the situation in Kashmir and especially Ladakh. Although China asked India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying asserted China’s position on Kashmir was “clear and consistent.” He also intimated that Kashmir is a legacy between India and Pakistan and the Article 370 was imposed in consensus of the international community, which clearly states that China was not in favour of decision. In return, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise.”
Other members of G-7, Canada and Italy have showed complete indifference in addressing the issue in public which is basically a plus for India’s clever geopolitical balance. Basically before the G-7 summit, India in a blistering diplomatic pace established a field of mutual trust while convincing partners and sceptics about its August 5 decision to de-operationalise Article 370 and reorganise Jammu & Kashmir into two Union territories. From US to other superpowers to the UN Security Council, India actually was able to build a strong diplomatic capital behind what is arguably the toughest political decision taken and so far India has succeeded.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights)