Where is Bosnia, asks Twitter.
We live in the era of Twitter diplomacy with the world’s most powerful man – the President of the United States – also its most prolific tweeter.
Amid the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has been acting like a cat on a hot-tin roof but hasn’t had much support from the international community despite their cry for help.
On Thursday, they did get a little help on Twitter, albeit from an unexpected quarter. A former Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador to Pakistan Nedim Makarevic (and current Bosnia Ambassador to Norway) tweeted: “Bosnia is with Pakistan.”
This led to a host of jokes about Bosnia given it's often billed as one of Europe’s poorest countries. Though prosperous once, political unrest in the 1990s hit its GDP hard. It has a huge trade deficit and a very high unemployment rate at 36%.
It also has a miniscule army of around 10,000 personnel which led to a host of not-so-kind jokes.
To add insult to injury, the former Ambassador appeared to realise his folly and deleted his tweet.
Well nobody gave a f*** about Bosnia until Edin Djeko started playing in Premier League. Their only contribution so far...
— Elvis priceless (@Nsihnat) August 8, 2019
Bosnia is with pakistan when it comes to begging !!
— Jitesh Rochlani (@jiteshrochlani) August 8, 2019
Sir pls, it’s a famous place, Dhoni also once shouted, Oye Bosnia ke, idhar dekh le... pic.twitter.com/jkKOFkyqaZ
— The-Lying-Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) August 8, 2019
Saki Naka se do gali aage.. https://t.co/jjeTcOdI1N
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) August 8, 2019
Looks like even Bosnia withdrew support. Tweet deleted pic.twitter.com/5eX2eobZ1X
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 8, 2019
This bosnia guy deleted his tweet pic.twitter.com/w8VqHFsEK3
— i_am_karma (@sakthi9414) August 8, 2019
Bosnia is no more with Pakistan pic.twitter.com/2FOcdZTZM9
— श्री सनीचर (विराट बुल्लाई) (@Ruchhan) August 8, 2019
1. How the world reacted
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Global reactions have been pouring in after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, with United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka reacting positively while the US coming out with a cautious statement.
UAE envoy to India Dr Ahmad Al Banna said the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and removal of its special status under Article 370 is India's internal matter. “We expect that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance and will encourage further stability and peace,” he said.
Recent years have seen India and UAE forging close ties, with and an increase in the number of high-level visits between the two countries. Earlier this year, UAE awarded its highest civilian award, the Zayed Medal, to PM Modi.
Sri Lankan premier Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted that “creation of Ladakh and consequential restructuring is India's internal matter”. He tweeted: “With 70% of Ladakh's population being Buddhist, it will be the first Indian state with a Buddhist majority... it is a beautiful region well worth a visit.”
2. What Uncle Sam said
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The United States state department came out with a statement and noted “that the Indian government has described these actions as strictly an internal matter”, but added it is “concerned about reports of detentions” and urged “respect for individual rights and discussion with those in affected communities.”
The US also called on India and Pakistan “to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control”.
Its state department made no mention of US President Donald Trump's mediation offer on Jammu and Kashmir, which was rejected by New Delhi. Meanwhile Indian diplomats upped their efforts to thwart any propaganda by Pakistan and ensure that the global community understands New Delhi's action.
The Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma told reporters in Moscow, “It's an internal matter and it is also an internal administrative matter... we are not surprised that Pakistan is raising this, but our response will be the same that it is not a matter that concerns Pakistan.”
3. MEA on Dragon's muscle-flexing
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The ministry of external affairs continued briefing of envoys on Tuesday on the administrative developments in Kashmir which included briefings for Latin American and Caribbean countries' envoys and envoys from neighbouring countries. Envoys from United Nations Security Council and Asean countries were briefed on Monday, with India explaining that the changed have been made to spur socio economic development of the region.
On Tuesday, India issued a strongly worded statement in response to China's reaction to the abrogation of Article 370, asking Beijing not to comment in its internal affair. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, “India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise.”
New Delhi hasn't commented on the recent protests in Hong Kong. In the past, it has not made any statements on crackdown in Tibet or on the minority Muslims in the restive northwestern province of Xinjiang.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, reacting to India removing the special status for Jammu and Kashmir, said, “The Indian side has continued to damage China's territorial sovereignty by unilaterally modifying the form of domestic law. This practice is unacceptable and will not have any effect.”
4. Watch video
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