Once again a situation of conflict has arisen between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. However, this incident did not happen on the India and Pakistan border but it happened in a seminar organized in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Although this issue was to be discussed after the seminar, it could not happen.
Ambassador Tariq A Karim, Advisor, Center for Bengal Bay Studies, Bangladesh Independent University, and Distinguished Guest Research Fellow, Institute of South Asia Studies, National University of Singapore, delivering the keynote address at a seminar titled ‘Rebuilding Trust, Renewing Regional Integration: Pathways to Revitalize SAARC’ organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on Monday. Were.
Wrong flag of India during speech
During his speech he showed the map of South Asia. Suddenly, Pooja Kumari Jha, Second Secretary (Political and Information) of the Indian High Commission, who was present at the seminar, started protesting against this.
Pooja Kumari objected, saying, “The map of India shown here is not correct. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Therefore, I feel that the map presented is not correct.” At that time, Ambassador Tariq A Karim said that the map was used only for presentation purposes and did not reflect the actual boundaries. At that time Pooja Kumari Jha said, ‘I understand sir. We consider Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India. This has been misrepresented here. That’s why I wanted to mention this matter.
The ambassador became silent after knowing the identity
At that time Tariq-e-Karim asked Pooja Kumari, ‘What is your identity?’ In response, Pooja Kumari said, “My name is Pooja Kumari Jha. I am the second secretary of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.” Hearing this, Ambassador Tariq-e-Karim became silent. He said, “Whatever you have said has been recorded.” Soon after, Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Wasif, who was present at the seminar, told Tariq Karim, “We have a statement on this issue.”
But Tariq e Karim did not give him any chance to speak and said that the matter could be discussed after the seminar. However, there was no further discussion on this after the seminar.
Pooja left before the seminar ended
Shortly after this incident, Pooja Kumari Jha left the seminar before it could end. At the end of the seminar, when Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner’s attention was drawn to this issue, he said, “You have seen what happened in today’s seminar. You must have also got an idea of their mentality.” He further said, “Due to India’s narrow thinking, no regional organization including SAARC is able to be effective. Their narrow thinking is the main obstacle in the way of development and progress of this region.”
It is noteworthy that the Kashmir issue is the root of dispute between India and Pakistan. Both countries consider Kashmir as their territory. However, Kashmir is now divided into 2 parts. One part is ruled by India, which is known as Jammu and Kashmir. The other part is under the control of Pakistan, which is known as Azad Kashmir. There have been three major wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir in 1947, 1965 and 1999. Apart from this, since 1984 there have been several small wars over control of the Siachen Glacier area.
Protest against Karim’s speech
There was a kind of uneasiness among the people present at the seminar on Kashmir issue organized in Dhaka. Some people said that Indian diplomats could have expressed their objection. He should have raised this issue after Tariq-e-Karim’s speech. But expressing opposition during a speech is unacceptable. Many people also objected to the keynote speech being given by Tariq e Karim. He said that how did this diplomat, close and beneficiary of fascist Hasina, get the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at the BIISS seminar?
After the Awami League came to power in 2009, Sheikh Hasina appointed Tariq e Karim as High Commissioner to India with the status of Minister of State on contract basis. However, in the booklet released by the Bangladesh High Commission on the occasion of Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Delhi in 2010, the controversial diplomat ended his message with ‘Jai Hind’. It was widely criticized at that time.
Leave a Reply