look news india
There has once again been a major uproar in the international diplomatic circles on the Kashmir issue. Completely ignoring India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and strong diplomatic opposition, US Acting Ambassador to Pakistan Natalie Baker has made a controversial visit to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Natalie Baker visited Muzaffarabad and surrounding areas and met several local officials, business circles and civil society representatives. India has always considered the entire Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as its integral part and has expressed strong objection to such activities of any foreign diplomat in the illegally occupied areas. Due to this step of a senior official of the US Embassy, a lot of resentment and stir is being seen among the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. This development is being linked to the changing stance of US foreign policy in South Asia and the emerging new regional strategic equations between Beijing-Islamabad-Washington.
Acting Ambassador (Chargé d’Affaires) Natalie Baker, who is commanding the US Embassy in Pakistan, recently visited Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The visit has been officially described as part of US aid initiatives, flood relief review, social welfare schemes and trade dialogue. Baker held meetings in Muzaffarabad with local administrators and Pakistan-backed representatives. However, strategic experts believe that such visits are not limited to mere humanitarian assistance for any foreign embassy, rather they have deep diplomatic meaning. India has also lodged a strong diplomatic protest in the past whenever officials of the US or any other country have visited PoK. India has repeatedly made it clear that the entire area under illegal occupation of Pakistan is an internal and legal part of India, hence the official presence of any country’s representative there will be considered a direct violation of India’s sovereignty.
This is not the first time that a senior US diplomat has approached PoK, ignoring India’s objections. Even before this, former US Ambassador Donald Blom had created a huge controversy by visiting this disputed area. Now this step of Natalie Baker clearly shows that America does not want to completely ignore Pakistan in its South Asian balance. Experts are considering this as a part of America’s dual diplomacy, where on one hand it describes India as its strongest strategic partner against China in the Indo-Pacific region, while on the other hand it takes such sensitive steps to please Pakistan and maintain its influence there. Islamabad is presenting this visit as strengthening its stand on the Kashmir issue at the international level, which is not acceptable to New Delhi under any circumstances.
The China factor is also very important in this whole matter. China has invested heavily in PoK through the CPEC project, on which India has been continuously protesting. America is also worried about the growing influence of China, hence it wants to keep a direct eye on the ground situation in the region through its diplomats. However, the issue for India is more about its geographical sovereignty than the US-China rivalry. The Indian Foreign Ministry may soon officially lodge a strong objection with the US administration on this issue. South Block sources believe that strategic partnership should be based on mutual respect and friendly countries should exercise restraint on highly sensitive issues related to India’s sovereignty.