Pakistan observed a 'Black Day' on Thursday to coincide with India's Independence Day celebrations, in protest at New Delhi's decision to revoke special status for its portion of the contested Kashmir region.
Pakistan observed a 'Black Day' on Thursday to coincide with India's Independence Day celebrations, in protest at New Delhi's decision to revoke special status for its portion of the contested Kashmir region.
Newspapers in Pakistan printed editions with black borders on Thursday and politicians, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, replaced their social media pictures with black squares.
Protests are due to be held across the country, including Azad Kashmir, the wedge of territory in the west of the region that Pakistan controls.
The largely symbolic move comes amid growing frustration in Islamabad at the lack of international response over the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan was isolated diplomatically and faced "a world in denial" over the situation in Kashmir, Dawn, the country's most influential English language newspaper, said in an editorial.
The 15-member United Nations Security Council could discuss the dispute as soon as Thursday, but Pakistan says it only has guaranteed support from China, which also claims part of India's Jammu and Kashmir state.
Action, Reaction.... pic.twitter.com/5rMDexvm7l
— The-Lying-Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) August 14, 2019
It seems some mad dog has bitten all of you. Pagalpan ke daure parr rahein hain Pakistanion ko. https://t.co/k1jfNi1XoT
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) August 14, 2019
Pakistan celebrated independence on 15 August too. Then changed it later despite having celebrated it in 1948 too. I am sure he knows that. https://t.co/SezTkBANhc
— Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) August 14, 2019
Power cut problem is still a big issue in Pakistan. https://t.co/LeAq9ghNvM
— Smoking Skills HMP (@SmokingSkills_) August 14, 2019
Sir, more importantly, how was the response to your ISPR honeytraps ka job advert? https://t.co/zAw0JkaYGe pic.twitter.com/YG6TvJfwtk
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) August 14, 2019
Yeah, black day, lights off in entire Pakistan to escape Indian fighter jets https://t.co/5nwscV1ZpH
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) August 14, 2019
Joblessness of the year award goes to... No surprises out there!! https://t.co/7trHc75wcV
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 14, 2019
apna wala to theek se mana lo, frustrated aadmi.. of bheekh se bani qaum..
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) August 14, 2019
1. Isolated diplomatically
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Pakistan was isolated diplomatically and faced "a world in denial" over the situation in Kashmir, Dawn, the country's most influential English language newspaper, said in an editorial.
The 15-member United Nations Security Council could discuss the dispute as soon as Thursday, but Pakistan says it only has guaranteed support from China, which also claims part of India's Jammu and Kashmir state.
Permanent security council member Russia said on Wednesday it supported India's stance that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral means, while the United States has called India's decision an internal matter for New Delhi.
In his Independence Day speech in the Indian capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the decision to remove the special rights of the Muslim-majority region among the bold moves of his second term, following an election victory in May.
"Today every Indian can proudly say 'One Nation, One Constitution'," Modi, speaking from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, said of the decision.
2. Modi vs Imran's speeches
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India and Pakistan commemorate their independence on August 14 and 15, respectively. As a custom, prime ministers of both nations address their countrymen on the occasion and this year was no different with Narendra Modi and Imran Khan gave speeches to mark the day. The speeches by Khan and Modi, however, came with notable differences.
Oddly, most of Khan's close-to 40-minute address on Pakistan's Independence Day was "devoted" to attacking the BJP and the RSS, while Modi did not even mention Pakistan in his speech. The Indian Prime Minister mostly talked of development and of goals of fulfilling aspirations of citizens.
Continuing its rant over Kashmir, Pakistan had observed its Independence Day as "Kashmir Solidarity Day", expressing unity and harmony with the people of Kashmir and retaliating against what Khan called "illegal aggression by India" in the wake New Delhi's historic move pertaining to the region.
Rattled by India's recent decision of revoking Article 370 that accorded Jammu and Kashmir with special status, Khan, during his speech in Muzaffarabad, continued to chastise India and said that New Delhi was planning an even bigger operation in occupied-Kashmir. In the fit of his outburst, the prime minister also indirectly admitted that the Balakot - India's air strike to avenge Pulwama attack - was a major operation that had rattled Pakistan.
3. Imran spews hate
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Instead of addressing issues such as Pakistan's empty coffers and terrorism on its soil, Khan took out time to attack the BJP and RSS on his country's independence day. Khan said that the "hateful ideology" of the BJP and the RSS would not remain limited to Kashmir, but eventually spill towards Pakistan, following which they would take such action.
Modi, on the other hand asserted that his second tenure as prime minister will be focused on fulfilling aspirations of every India. During his 92-minute address, Prime Minister also made a major allocation of Rs 3.5 lakh crore to his government's Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing potable water to every household.
Khan said that the goons of the RSS are lynching people, threatening judges, intellectuals, and deeming anyone who speaks against them as anti-nationals, which is "exactly what the Nazis did. India is heading towards disaster with extremist ideology". While Khan's own citizens accuse him of jailing opposition leaders and not fulfilling his promise of a 'Naya Pakistan' - the poll plank he used to win elections.
Modi's speech had various touch points, all related to India's development and targeted at realising a 'New India'. He focused on the dream of achieving a five trillion dollar economy, pushed for digital payments and called on people to shun single-use plastic.
Commenting on his government's landmark decision of abrogating Article 370, Modi stressed that "the old arrangement" in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh encouraged corruption, nepotism and there was injustice when it came to rights of women, children, Dalits, tribal communities.
The new developments would now bring in a lot of growth and investment in the region, Modi affirmed.
He also urged all countries to come together and support in the fight against terrorism and expose the countries who harbours and export terrorism.
