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The 74th session of UN General Assembly was held recently at UN headquarters at New York. Leaders from different parts of the globe congregated to meet each other, exchange views, and work out common consensus and working relationships to nurture and achieve goals adopted by the UN in their respective countries. While the august audience is all eyes and ears for the leaders from amongst superpowers, there is also a very healthy interest to have a look at those leaders that make their maiden appearance. If nothing else, then to size them. Among these leaders, the newly elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, was one of them. The notorious reputation of his country preceded him (Pakistan is known globally as being soft on terror). So did the condemnation of ‘Islamic Terrorism' by Donald Trump, President of the United States. These factors combined with the extraordinary situation prevailing in the part of the globe where he comes from were enough of a trigger for a heightened interest in what Imran Khan had to say.
The audience was looking for a matured speech. A measured speech. A reassuring speech. But probably that was expecting a bit too much. Imran Khan did full justice to his nation and its reputation – that of being deceit masters and sponsors of terrorism across the globe. Not sure whether to ‘Plead’ or to ‘Threaten’. Belligerence was written all over his speech. Imran Khan desperately tried to be statesmanlike. But, little did he realize that a speech with glaring data errors or omissions, a speech that points fingers at the world rather than inspires, a speech that seeks compassion and understanding using the language of threat and blackmail, and, a speech made up of half-truths and smart falsehoods, cannot make the grade of a Statesman. Ultimately, Imran Khan ended up threatening the world with nuclear blackmail. In a game of brinkmanship, if he had any thoughts of acquiring the stature of a statesman, it was way short of the mark. Here is a fact check on the issues raised by him during the speech. Imran Khan raised four issues in his speech. We critically examine what he said and where the facts and data lie.
1. Climate Change: The first issue raised by him was on climate change. Imran Khan has been less than honest in taking up this issue. He laments that many nations are not doing enough, even though they are the major contributors to the current state of carbon gas emission. He is less than honest here. While he blames others, he cites resource constraint as the bottleneck when it comes to Pakistan’s performance. Saying that Pakistan has planted 1 billion trees and plans to further plant 10 billion, serves very little purpose. Achieving climate change targets by 2030, as defined in the Paris Agreement, would require an order of magnitude more planning and effort than what Pakistan has shown so far. Imran Khan would do well to go back and read the INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) submitted by his Government to the UN. It should shock him, to say the least. There is no substance in it. Nowhere near what is required to achieve the 2030 objectives. As for the funds, Mr. Khan, Paris Agreement established a global fund that offers project-based funding for ‘Climate Change Action’. It supports nations where affordability is a question. Pakistan got no funding simply because it has neither submitted any detailed plans nor any specific project proposals. The country is used to getting funds for one thing and using it for an altogether different purpose. Perhaps, project-specific funding arrangement does not suit Pakistan.
2. Money Laundering: The second issue raised by Imran Khan was money laundering. This malaise has been a bane to many societies, not just Pakistan. It has been in existence for many decades now, even in Pakistan. The labyrinth of laws everywhere enabled people to successfully dodge the system and escape paying their dues. Imran Khan was at pains to paint the developed world as the beneficiary and hence the culprit. Very misleading. The malaise afflicts the developed world as well. It is all very easy to blame others. Imran Khan needs to look inwards. He needs to first assess where Pakistan stands with respect to their own laws and recovering illicit wealth within his own country. The track record of Pakistan on this front, over the years, has been abysmal.
The next two points were the more important ones for Imran Khan. Islamophobia and Kashmir. Unfortunately, on these two very points, he got derailed very badly.
3. Islamophobia: Imran Khan accuses the world of Islamophobia and goes on to make a case that Islam has been more wronged than being an aggressor. He goes on to say that Islam is a tolerant and peaceful religion. Maybe. But the data points do not support him. Let’s do a fact check.
The world never looked at Islam with any reservations. But over time, actions on part of the followers of the religion, led societies across the globe to change their outlook. Let’s take the UK for instance. This is the country where Imran Khan got exposed to western civilization and culture. So much so that he even married a British lady. We take him back to the late '60s when as a teenager he went to the UK for his education. Let him compare it with what he sees around him today in the UK. As a young teenager in 60s did he or his family ever feel threatened by the overpowering presence of Britishers and non-Muslim religions around them? I dare say no, for otherwise he would have never married a British lady and fathered two sons with her. But can he say that for non-Muslims today? Especially in cities where the Muslim population has grown to a sizeable percentage - Birmingham (21% plus Muslims), Bradford (25%), Luton (25%), Manchester(16%) to name a few. And, can he say the same for large parts within London, for instance, Finsbury, Regent’s Park, Edgeware Road, etc. What is it about the religion that when the Muslim population goes up from about 700,000 or so in 1970 (about 1.3%) to about 4,000,000 or so in 2019 (5% plus) and forms a sizeable portion in a particular city (15% plus), sweeping changes take place in societies on tolerance front? Imran Khan, that is just the UK. The situation is not much different in France, Germany, Belgium, and many more countries in Europe and Scandinavia. It also has to be noted that many of these countries opened their arms and hearts to welcome the refugees, predominantly Muslims. And what do these people do – rape, theft, general social disruption. And, you expect the world to not take a note of all this? It is wishful thinking.
The story in Imran Khan’s own country is even more horrific. India and Pakistan have the same cultural heritage. In 1947, both became separate countries through a partition. And then, what happened? Minorities were about 23% of the Pakistan population in 1947 (15% if we exclude Bangladesh). It has come down to around 3.7% (based on a report compiled by the European Parliament in Jun 2019 - https://eptoday.com/files/Religious%20Minorities%20Report.pdf. There is a plethora of data, studies, and reports available on this. It is not an isolated observation). It did not stop here. Pakistan has gone through to extreme where even sects of Muslims are today considered as non-Muslims. The case of Ahmadiyya. It is a pity that the only real Nobel Laureate that Pakistan has seen - Dr. Abdus Salam - left the country in a huff once the religion of his sect was disenfranchised by Pakistan (Dr. Salam was an Ahmadiyya). Is this the example that Imran Khan had in mind when he talked about tolerance?
Mr. Imran Khan was at pains to point out that Muslim youth take up arms or respond through violence because their voice is not heard leading to frustration and anger. How very misplaced and misleading. Even a cursory glance across what is happening in the globe today will reveal that the statement is grossly wrong. Can he tell why Muslims in Pakistan are frustrated? About 100 plus children were killed by gunmen in Peshawar. Was that the job of a frustrated Muslim youth? And why Muslims in Sweden, UK, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand are all frustrated. And, the flip side of the argument – how come the same Muslim youth do not get frustrated and desperate seeing what is happening to Muslims in Uighur in China? So, what is causing all this? Is it because the whole upbringing and education are not suitable or up to the par with what is required by the fast-changing world causing them to fall behind in society leading to their frustration and anger? Or is it because the rigidity in the religion doesn't allow the spiritual growth of the individual? Or is it because the helpless state in which the Muslim youth find themselves, is a happy hunting ground exploited by organized terrorists? Mr. Imran Khan would have been better served if he had provided concrete answers to these questions and offered solutions to these problems, rather than justifying the radicalization of Islamic youth and blaming the same on Islamophobia. What goes on in Madrasas (aka brainwashing) is well-known and well documented globally.
Imran Khan talks of suicide bombers and makes a case to delink religion from it. He mentions Tamil Tigers, Japanese pilots, going on suicide missions. Mind you, Mr. Khan, these and such missions did not happen due to religious strife or disagreements. They happened due to nationalistic fervor. History is replete with such examples. No one remembers Ashfaqullah Khan (Kakori train dacoity in pre-independence India – hope your memory does not fail you) as a Muslim fanatic. No one remembers Abdul Hamid (1965 war) as a Muslim fanatic even though what he did was no less suicidal. They are remembered as national heroes. But when young blood goes on a suicide mission to take revenge on religious grounds or religious discourse, then the religion cannot escape responsibility. When there is an organized mission to train young boys and girls to become suicide bombers, you cannot get away by saying it is their anger and frustration. So please, do not play the ‘victim card’.
Finally, take your own speech, Mr. Imran Khan. You made an impassioned plea to others for understanding Islam, but you yourself displayed scant respect to other societies. Talking of Hijab, you wanted people to understand and respect your culture. But in the same breath, you were not very charitable to other societies for the dressing habits of their women. There was scorn in your voice towards their dressing habits. Is this your tolerance on display? And, have you, or your fraternity, ever paused to think why there has been an objection or suspicion to Hijab? The answer probably is ‘no’.
The genesis of Islamophobia Imran Khan does not lie in other religions nurturing any hatred or intolerance towards Islam. Instead, it lies in the acts of commission and omission by your religion or those who preach and guide the practice of your religion. So, when a Hijab transcends the boundaries of being a dress for a woman to being a tool for defeating the security and vigilance apparatus, then concerns are raised. When religious discourse behind secretive walls transcends into the domain of preaching hatred towards other religions or making a mockery of their beliefs or culture, then concerns are raised. And, when these concerns are raised, the response from your religion or the spokespersons of your religion is to portray it all as religious blasphemy. Even calling for the baying of blood. It is this phenomenon that leads to genuine misgivings. As a result, religion gets a bad name and is then viewed with suspicion. It is time for some honest soul searching in your religious world. Trust me, for every positive step that you come up with after the soul searching, the world will be only too glad to go three steps with you.
4. The Kashmir Issue: Finally, the Kashmir issue. This probably was the main issue Imran Khan wanted to raise. But going by all that preceded his address to UNGA, he was somewhat uncomfortable going with it as the singular point of address. And that also explains why he overshot his allotted time so much despite repeated reminders that his time was over.
When it comes to Kashmir, there has been a consistent bundle of lies that Pakistan has been peddling over the last so many decades. These lies stand exposed over and over again on many forums. But Pakistan still keeps peddling them in the hope that consistent repetition of lies will give them a cloak of credibility someday. Imran Khan follows the tradition.
Pakistan keeps harping on the right to self-determination by Kashmiri people. Towards this end, they always point to the referendum which was to be conducted in Kashmir. Pakistan keeps citing the UN resolution to this effect. Imran Khan also did it. But sadly, while Pakistan remembers the ‘referendum’ part, it suffers amnesia on conditions preceding the referendum. Here is a video that explains the same. 
We look at the Kashmir situation critically and holistically. First the geography. Below is the map of Kashmir.
Kashmir consisted of the entire area shown in light brown color (Pakistan Administered Kashmir + India Administered Kashmir), plus area marked with lines (ceded by Pakistan to China, and, Aksai Chin). For this article, we leave out the Aksai Chin. It was forcibly occupied by China in the 1962 war with India. It is a disputed territory between India and China. Talks for resolution of the same happen directly between the two. The other three form the issue between India and Pakistan.
Kashmir was an independent state in 1947. Pakistan always wanted Kashmir to merge with them but the ruler was unwilling. Pakistan then attacked Kashmir immediately after 15th August 1947 (Razakars – supposedly freedom fighters) to annex it. The ruler of the state, Maharaja Hari Singh, signed an Instrument of Accession with India. The attack on Kashmir was immediately retaliated by the Indian Army once the Instrument of Accession was signed. Effectively this was the first war that was fought between India and Pakistan. A cease-fire was called before the Indian army could complete its task of pushing back the infiltrators all the way. It led to an administrative split of the state - India administered and Pakistan administered. Matters went to the UN Security Council. UN passed a resolution (http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/doc/47) as explained in the YouTube video above. Pakistan agreed to it but never implemented the same. On the contrary, Pakistan engaged in a proxy war with India on Kashmir ever since. Not only this, Pakistan has unilaterally handed over a portion of the territory of the erstwhile State to China. Pakistan had no jurisdiction to do such a thing. The situation has been further complicated as China has started investing in the area on military infrastructure knowing full well that it is a territory under dispute. India has repeatedly told China and Pakistan about the same. India has also refused to participate in Chinese CPEC or OBOR initiatives precisely because of this issue. It is no secret that China's support for Pakistan on Kashmir is due to these strategic reasons. China knows very well the absurdity of Pakistan citing UN resolution but themselves being in breach of the same.
We move on from geography. The state was ruled in 1947 by Maharaja Hari Singh, who was a Hindu ruler. The population consisted of a majority of Muslims but had a very sizeable number of non-Muslims. Even within Muslims the bulk was not the hardcore Islamic fundamentalists but was more towards the Sufi Islam, which is softer and more tolerant. Pakistan would obviously have none of it and wanted to forcibly alter the character through sponsoring terrorism in the state. Kashmiri Muslims witnessed diktats towards enforcing strict Islamic traditions and lifestyles, aided and abetted by terrorist activities driven from across the border. Any moderate voice was silenced. Further, in the beginning '90s, non-Muslims were driven out of the state by terrorist sponsored brutal ethnic cleansing. It was a deliberate attempt to alter the demography of the state with ulterior motives.
Due to all these developments, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have paid a very heavy price in terms of being left out of mainstream development, in terms of being displaced from their homeland, and in terms of radicalization of their culture and traditions. Pakistan was inflicting all this damage through cross border terrorism. They were also helped in this by corrupt dynasties who engaged in doublespeak and appropriated among themselves an enormous amount of funds through unprecedented corruption, favoritism and nepotism. Abrogation of article 370, which was a temporary provision in the Indian constitution, dealt a severe blow to this grand design and the cozy arrangement. It has changed the dynamics. And, for the first-time real power is getting into the hands of people. As we write this article, the government of India has announced elections for block development councils in the state of J & K (http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/pdf/BDC_2019/PressNote29.09.2019.pdf). There are a total of 316 blocks across the state where elections are going to be held. This is ‘real’ power to people.
Pakistan is raising a hue and cry as they want to desperately revive their channels of disruption rendered ineffective due to clampdown and strict vigilance after August 5th. Unable to make much headway, Pakistan is resorting to the propaganda of human rights violations. (This is a big humbug. Firstly, there are no human rights violations taking place. And secondly, if human rights violation was really the issue, then Pakistan should have been up in arms against China where Muslim traditions, religion, and culture are being strongly clamped down upon in Uighur).
Global powers have seen through Pakistani propaganda. Imran Khan is on record accepting that they haven't got much support from the global community. In line with its DNA, Pakistan is thus upping their ante by raising the decibels of Nuclear blackmail and trying to give it some semblance of legitimacy by putting a cloak of frustration and desperation out of helplessness. The bloodbath that Imran Khan talks about, which made headlines as shown in the picture below, is not an anticipation. It is rather a statement of his intent. He is threatening India thus revealing the true character of his country.
And therein the terrorist DNA of Pakistan gets revealed. It is on full public display globally. Far from redeeming his nation in eyes of global fraternity, Imran Khan has ended up reinforcing forcefully what the world, in general, thinks Pakistan is – Terroristan, (as one Foreign Minister put it). The world at large, and the UN delegates, in particular, are not so naïve as to miss it. I dare say it puts the global community on a challenging spot. Any slackness would see terrorism being legitimized as a tool and a revival of terrorist organizations at large.
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