India's 'Zero Terror' plan queers Pakistan's pitch on Kashmir

Pakistan Army Chief, General Asim Munir’s attempt to get the US backing for Islamabad’s stand on Kashmir miserably failed with the Biden administration refusing to endorse his arguments on this “bilateral” issue.

- R.BRAJESH

The US officials asked the Pakistan Army brass not to discuss any issue (Jammu and Kashmir) that has to be resolved bilaterally. The US asked him to take stern and credible actions against terror actors who are still active on the soil of Pakistan and in other parts of the region, diplomats who are in touch with their US counterparts who are closely following Munir’s US visit told The Sunday Guardian.

In his first official visit to the US as Pakistan Army Chief, General Asim Munir met top US officials, including US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and Secretary of Defence General Llyod J Austin.

In these interactions, Munir tried to raise the Kashmir issue, but he was given a cold shoulder on this, sources said, adding, “The US officials did not lend Munir a hearing when he sought to discuss the fallout of Indian Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a jolt for Pakistan.”

Pakistan Army chief wanted a favourable response from Secretary Blinken on the Kashmir matter in a private conversation so that he could use it to win some brownie points, an official said.