Avoiding blame games

The recent drone attacks in Occupied Kashmir could be termed reminiscent of the Pulwama attacks, when a failed attempt was made, a few years ago, to launch an offensive against Pakistan under the guise of these strikes.

It is too early to claim from where exactly the mysterious drones were flown, but Jammu and Kashmir's police chief Dil Bagh Singh has linked the recent attacks to Pakistan. Claiming that a Pakistan-based militant group is likely to be the mastermind of the drone strikes, he said that drones are suspected to have flown across the border. On the basis of his baseless statement, the Indian media has once again started propaganda against Pakistan.

The timings of drone attacks could also be termed significant in the context of recent developments in the region. Just a few days prior to the attacks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a meeting with Kashmiri political leaders, had discussed holding elections in the occupied valley.

Similarly, a few days before the drone strikes, a horrific car bomb blast was also carried out near the house of the chief of a banned organization in Lahore. India is accusing the organization for the recent drone strikes. As a result, three innocent people, including a police officer, lost their precious lives and at least 24 others were injured.

Pakistani security forces have successfully arrested the culprits involved in the attack from different parts of the country. According to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, all international and local characters involved in the bombing have also been identified.

If we take a look at the regional scenario, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will be completed by September 11 this year. In this regard, there is still uncertainty in the region. The US apparently wants to once again repeat the history of the 90s, when the people of Afghanistan were left at the mercy of warlords and local militias.

In my view, the withdrawal of the US may not only result in emerging a new civil war in Afghanistan but also have negative impacts on neighboring countries, including Pakistan. Although India's border is not directly adjacent to Afghanistan, it is an historic fact that the ongoing freedom movement in Occupied Kashmir gained momentum after the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan.

I remember that a few years ago, India, after the Pulwama attacks, was showing similar aggressive intentions against Pakistan. In such a critical situation, I had an opportunity to visit India to attend the Kumbh Mela. During my separate meetings with Indian PM Narendra Modi, the late foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State for External Affairs and former Army Chief General VK Singh and other government, media and civil society representatives, I made it clear that no Pakistani institution was involved in the Pulwama attacks. Pakistan is in favour of cordial relations with all neighbours, including India.

Even today, I would like to highlight that some extremist elements have been active in both countries from day one with the aim of achieving their vested interests. However, sustainable peace between Pakistan and India is in the best interest of both countries.

We should avoid playing blame games and all terrorist acts should be strongly condemned. All culprits involved in terrorism should be deal with forcefully. Today, if superpower America is ready to give up its occupation after a 20-year war in Afghanistan, then obviously one day India will also have to restore the special status of Occupied Kashmir, followed by implementation of the UN resolutions.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

Twitter: @RVankwani