Ajai Vir asked: Is it a coincidence that Pakistan has changed its stance on Kashmir when China has a working infrastructure in the region, or is there a link?

Priyanka Singh replies: I do not think there is a link between the two. This year on February 5 during the so-called Kashmir solidarity day, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani stated that his country could not afford war on Kashmir. The statement, no doubt, is important and unprecedented but cannot be taken at the face of it. For us to discern that it somehow signals a significant policy shift on the part of Pakistan is both premature and impractical. At least India is not looking out for such reassurances. Rather, to hear, if Pakistan would stop proxy tactics of harbouring/supporting militant groups targeting India’s security, would have been much more assuring.

Pakistan is too absorbed in managing its worsening internal security situation and is preoccupied balancing out equations with the US and China. It, therefore, is a foregone conclusion that it cannot easily think of opening up a new front on its eastern border in near future. Hence, what Gilani posited was literally correct but I don’t think it implies much on Pakistan’s obsession with the Kashmir issue.

China’s extensive involvement in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a reality and it is possible that external factors such as this may lead to some kind of change in Pakistan’s approach towards PoK. In case such a shift occurs, it would be interesting to note how things pan out in the region.