General Zia-ul-Haq, envisioning the liberation of Kashmir, was poised to support both the Kashmir and Khalistan movements. However, his untimely demise in 1988 shifted the dynamics. The Kashmiris continued their struggle against brutal Indian forces, facing atrocities and human rights abuses.
The political landscape in Pakistan witnessed significant shifts, with various regimes adopting different approaches toward Kashmir. Benazir Bhutto’s era saw a reversal of gains in Afghanistan and Kashmir, while Nawaz Sharif pursued diplomatic initiatives with various Indian leaders. The post-9/11 era brought new challenges, as Pakistan faced allegations of supporting terrorism.
The Indo-Pak peace treaty of 2004 failed to materialize, and General Pervez Musharraf’s out-of-the-box solution proposal faced skepticism. The Mumbai attacks in 2008 strained diplomatic relations, shifting the narrative toward terrorism rather than the Kashmir issue.
The narrative intensified India’s efforts to paint itself as a victim of terrorism, with global powers supporting its stance. The 20-year war on terror bled Pakistan economically and politically, but its successes in countering terrorism received little recognition.
