India’s hideous human rights violations are being exposed to the whole world. The reality is that India is curtailing media freedom and restricting press conferences and questions. The media management and censorship in high-level meetings like the G20 and other such events will always be maintained by an elected dictatorship like the Modi government. However, it is important for Pakistan and the countries, considered the flag bearers of human rights, to continue to highlight human rights violations.
The joint declaration of the G20 also shows that the United States is trying to lead the G20 countries toward its policy of stopping China’s development. On the one hand, the rights of Ukraine are discussed in the G20 but these champions of human rights should read the letter written by Amnesty International and remind them of the violation in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. G20 countries have remained silent about the Kashmir issue
India, Saudi Arabia and the United States have jointly announced the Northern Corridor and Eastern Corridor as part of the economic corridor aimed to connect India with the Gulf States and Europe. The purpose of this policy is also to stop the Chinese advancements in the region as part of the China Containment Policy.
China made an effective foreign policy statement regarding US interests and intervention in Taiwan, calling their red line. It is obvious that the direct impact of US intervention in this region will be more on China, CPEC and member countries of SCO and ECO. India is a member of SCO but wants benefits from both sides. It seems it will be kicked out by the SCO due to its closeness to the US.
China allocated $4 trillion to the Belt and Road Project (BRI) and has spent one trillion dollars already. US also talked about the corridor but China has gone far ahead. US President Joe Biden made this political statement that he will maintain relations with China and not stop Chinese economic development. It needs to be seen how far the US can advance in its China containment policy and how successful China’s development plans will be.
India is taking advantage of the geopolitical situation for its own negative interest. India successfully and brazenly prevented the mention of human rights violations from being included in the G20 summit even though it faced questions in the previous summit. India did not mention human rights violations in the joint declaration. The G20 was deemed an economic forum whose main objectives do not include human rights. The G20 charter clearly mentions human rights and these countries are considered as the flagbearers.
Pakistan is the biggest supporter of human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. India calls Kashmir its integral part then we have an advantage as every Kashmiri is a citizen of Pakistan. The Kashmiris are shouting slogans of “Kashmir Banega Pakistan’ after taking the bullets of occupying Indian forces and when they are martyred, they are buried in the flag of Pakistan. This is no less than showing a mirror to the Modi government.
Despite all these facts, the world’s response to Pakistan’s position is bleak. Pakistan has to strengthen its economic power to achieve the desired results. It is expected that the BRI project and CPEC will change the entire geo-political situation and the US monopoly over the region will end. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are trying to balance their relationship with both China and the US but also allocating billions of dollars to projects with China.
Saudi Arabia and Gulf states are benefiting from Chinese arbitration in Syria and Iran. They do not want to disturb ties with the United States. Pakistan’s position is not yet fully decided but its focus is economic and developing strong relations with China and Russia.
Pakistan needs time to change its economic situation. It is developing the defence sector where it is reliant on Chinese and Russian equipment and supplies. Pakistan needs to maintain friendly relations with all countries as long as its interests with China are not harmed. Pakistan’s focus is on strengthening itself economically, socially and politically. We are also active against human rights violations including Kashmir. The misuse of anti-terrorism laws and violations of human rights have become the hallmark of India. The issues mentioned by the Human Rights Council and the economic and political implications of affecting diplomatic relations are also noteworthy.
Pakistan should pay attention to its relations with Russia and its long-standing friendship with China. The emergence of two blocs in the global scenario is becoming clear. India has announced its position by signing defence and technology agreements with the United States. China can prove to be the biggest threat to India in term of trade.
India’s abuse and mistreatment of minorities cannot be ignored. India is responsible for atrocities and killings in Occupied Kashmir and the Modi government has mistreated minorities in its own cities. Rather, these followers of Hindutva treat Dalit Hindus inhumanely over caste issues. Poverty in India is being hidden behind new faces and billboards.
It is imperative that Pakistan takes swift and strategic steps at the diplomatic level to highlight these serious violations of human rights, During the G20 summit, US President Joe Biden did not even mention human rights on his arrival in India. He went to Vietnam and held a press conference and said he discussed human rights during the meeting with Modi. India did not mention Biden’s remarks in its statement. There is a scenario emerging that China may break away from the G20 countries as blocs are formed. The shifting alliances and the “string of alliances” versus “string of pearls” remind us of the “Tum Adhar and Hum Adhar” policy.
The GDP of the G20 countries is 85% of the global GDP and their population is one-third of the world’s total population. There are responsible for 75% of global trade is present which includes six nuclear countries. If we look at the past declarations of the G20 countries and the G7, there is a lot of similarity regarding China, which once again brings out the hostility between the US and China. 148 countries have become part of China’s BRI project.
The US president said would try to put $25 billion in the corridor by talking to Congress. Countries including Pakistan and India, which are not directly involved in the tussle between the United States and China, are looking out for their own vested interests.
It seems that West is on the upper hand ongoing diplomatic tussle between China and the US. At present, the military alignments and confrontations that are going on from the sea (Indian Pacific Ocean) to the space cannot be considered as a sign of anything good. When the course of the global economy starts to change, India may also be forced to change its policy.
There is no doubt that the current and previous announcements of the G20 meeting should be seen together and an open conflict between the West and China may begin. The real situation will be clear only when the time comes to see who can use political or military weapons.
When it comes to India, there has always been a difference and contradiction in its thoughts and character. The G20 theme is kept and on the other hand, Muslims in occupied Kashmir and in various states of India are in dire straits. The inhumane treatment by Hindu extremists to which the Modi government turned a blind eye is a grave violation of all international laws.
The G20 was created under Chapter 8 of the UN Charter which has been ignored. Not only the G20 but also the European Union, G7, and NATO countries, all of them seem to be following China containment policy. Modi government is using extremism as its weapon for the 2024 general elections. The implementation of Hindutva policy through the BJP is not new and other tactics are being used including mob attacks on Muslims, demolition of houses, and eviction from properties.
Indian Muslims have been forced to think that their ancestors staying in India at the time of the creation of Pakistan was really the right decision or not. Modi’s Hindutva has proven the two-nation theory to be true again after more than 76 years. Indian analysts including Professor Ashok Swain say that he did not think that President Biden would be such a coward. it is a part of America’s China containment policy that it wants to make India the regional policeman, ignoring the human rights violations, for their vested interests and stopping China’s growing economic and military power.
Time will prove that this policy of the US was wrong and the foolish steps taken to make India a regional leader, including international agreements and supply of arms. Even America and Western countries will not be able to protect themselves before the sparks cause fire.
