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| Pak denying visa to Akther exposes its 'wavering' policy | | 'Tarigami, Hakim Yasin can attend track-II conferences, but PDP spokesman can't' | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: Pakistan denying visa to the senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and its chief spokesman Naeem Akther has surprised many people across the state besides it has exposed the wavering policy of the Pakistan High Commission about granting visa to Kashmiri politicians from mainstream camp. A New Delhi based daily recently reported that Pakistan High Commission had denied visa to PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akther, who was scheduled to participate in a Track-II conference to be held in Islamabad next week.
Akhtar had applied for a visa to travel to Islamabad for a track-II event being jointly organized by Jinnah Institute, a public policy think tank in Pakistan, and the New Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR). The institute is presided over by Sherry Rehman, former Pakistan Ambassador to the US and ex-minister.
An analyst while talking to Early Times said, "One fails to understand why a seasoned politician like Akther has been denied the visa by Pakistan High Commission. Many Kashmiri mainstream politicians, including M Y Tarigami, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, and others have visited Pakistan in the past and have attended track-II conferences. When they were invited to participate in such events Pakistan High Commission had no objection in providing visas to them."
The analyst said that Pakistan has no clear policy vis-à-vis Kashmir either Kashmiris. "It seems they have not set any specified criteria for giving visas to Kashmiri politicians. They take impulsive decisions, at least it looks like so," he added.
Pertinently, Akther besides being the spokesman of PDP, which emerged as single largest party in the recent assembly polls by bagging 28 seats, is a renowned intellectual of Kashmir and has earned name and fame across the globe by writing meticulous columns, articles and analysis.
"Pakistan denying visa to Akther seems to be a well planned move as at present he (Akther) is in the news and enjoys a celebrity status as he has been authorized by the PDP to issue statements on its behalf.
Pakistan has managed a big publicity stunt as it's denying visa to the spokesman of a party which is likely to form the next government in JK has hogged the headlines. Neighboring country has driven home a point that track-II conferences are on and Kashmir is being discussed," said an analyst.
"It seems Pakistan wants to keep its people and separatists happy by indulging in such tactics, which are nothing more than a cosmetic exercise," he added.
Many track-II conferences have been held in Indian cities during the past few years but these have remained a low profile affair. Usually retired army officials, retired bureaucrats, intellectuals, politicians, journalists and academicians from both the countries attend such events as it gives them a chance to exchange their views and promote better understanding.
"Such conferences are not Kashmir specific there are various issues which are discussed when people from both the sides get a chance to share a common platform.
It's unfortunate that Pakistan by denying visa to Akther has tried to politicize the event," said a politician. "The development has come at a time when PDP is holding talks with BJP over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. What is Pakistan trying to indicate?" he questioned. When contacted, Akther expressed ignorance about the reported denial of visa to him. "I have not received any official communiqué about it," he said, adding, "I only know that Jinnah Institute, Pakistan had invited me for a conference." |
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