In a meeting with Kashmiri leaders in Ankara, Advisor to Turkey’s Prime Minister Burhan Kayaturk has assured them that Turkey supports Kashmiris’ right of self-determination and it would also bring the matter to the notice of the world community. It is because of conduct of the sort that Turkey commands great respect in the Muslim world. The country’s sensitivity to Kashmiris’ conditions should be welcomed as their struggle for freedom continues unabated. While one is all praise for the Turkish friends for lending a helping hand to project the issue on to the international stage, what is worrying is that Pakistan has been found wanting in extending its traditional and principled support.
In recent history, Islamabad first saw a decline in its interest with the arrival of the Musharraf regime that tried to manoeuvre the people into a compromise with India. The democratic government led by PPP that was expected to renew the struggle on behalf of Kashmiris fared worse. The subject didn’t even get a mention in various bilateral exchanges with New Dehli under the composite dialogue process. It is heartening that Turkey has expressed solidarity with their brethren. For Pakistan that is locked in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation with India along the LoC, it is arguably the most pressing issue. The PPP government would be well-advised to help Kashmiris get out of Indian stranglehold.