Article 370: The political tussle has remained high in Pakistan after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sparked a new flare when he claimed that the Shehbaz Sharif government and the alliance Congress-National Conference, share the same thinking over restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. His remarks have come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is seeing the first Assembly polls since the revocation of the state’s special status in 2019.
Khawaja Asif Predicts Congress-NC Alliance Victory in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls
While speaking on Geo News, Asif suggested that a majority win for the Congress-NC alliance was a high possibility. According to him, both Pakistan and the alliance agreed upon restoring Articles 370 and 35A which had provided special autonomy to the region.
National Conference has been vocal about getting back Article 370, whereas the Congress has remained silent and hasn’t included it in its election manifesto. However, the Congress has promised to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which it considers a separate issue.
BJP Slams Congress for Alleged Alignment with Pakistan on Kashmir
Therefore, for many in the region, the abolition of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—constitute a matter that has run quite deep in the marrow. Restoration of Article 370 has almost become part of the electoral campaigns of National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP.
Asif’s comments have provided the BJP with further ammunition to lash back at the Congress. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted: “Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference’s position on Kashmir. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk on Geo News says, “Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A”. How is it that, from Pannun to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress, are always seen on the side of those inimical to India’s interest?” The controversy yet again showcases the intensity of the political debate over Jammu and Kashmir.