16 5 Chinars in Chains: India’s Siege of Jammu and Kashmir INTRODUCTION Following the landslide victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2019 Indian General Elections, the government led by Narendra Modi swiftly announced revocation of the special status of Jammu & Kashmir by repealing Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution on 5 August 2019. [...] While in the past, there were no seats for the Scheduled Tribes, the Commission reserved nine constituencies for them, out of which three were in the Kashmir Valley and six in the Jammu region. [...] Foreseeing the possibility of a similar situation in the upcoming elections in September, the BJP has introduced amendments to the constitution to transfer the powers of the Chief Minister to the Lieutenant Governor to maintain its foothold. [...] “Pakistan’s policy in resolving the Jammu & Kashmir dispute should involve consistent diplomacy, which can be enhanced by the appointment of a Special Envoy or Deputy Foreign Minister designated solely to advocate the Kashmir cause.” In the long-term, Pakistan should opt for more sustained and comprehensive diplomatic efforts to apprise the international community about the plight of the people of. [...] Discussing the impact of internet curbs in the Valley and the role of emerging technologies, the President explained that increasing internet disruptions could drive adoption of direct satellite connections, potentially overcoming Indian restrictions on the flow of information in future.
- Pages
- 26
- Published in
- Pakistan