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 On September 20, both houses of parliament in Pakistan unanimously passed identical resolutions condemning "state terrorism" in the Indian-held Kashmir and reaffirmed Pakistan's "diplomatic, political and moral support" for Kashmiris in their struggle. We all know that this resolution is meaningless, and is not going to make any difference. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani said that the resolution was important to draw world's attention to the plight of Kashmiris but he is being naïve, if he is expecting the world to give his country's parliament as much attention as given to the U.S. Congress.
The Indian forces are firing on unarmed Kashmiris as if they were shooting at sparrows; and the world, including Pakistan, is silent. Pakistan until 9/11 in 2001 aggressively supported the jihadi forces in Kashmir that resulted in more than 80,000 deaths. We failed to achieve anything out of it, except that a few perhaps made millions, if not billions, out of this operation, that we deny till to date.
President Musharraf after 9/11 changed the strategy, and the country at least ostensibly became careful in infiltrating the mujahideen into Kashmir. Even this had to stop when Lakhwi sent his boys into Mumbai in November 2008 to teach the Indians a lesson. Less than 200 innocent Indians were killed but Pakistan was seen as a bad boy and a Mecca for the jihadi and terrorist forces of the world. This was obviously something to be ashamed of but our interior minister could not do much about it, except issue one statement after another expressing his resolve to end all the terrorist training facilities in his country.
It is about time that all the jihadi loving forces in Pakistan realize that they cannot achieve much with terrorism and it is more advisable to initiate a diplomatic and political battle to achieve our aims. Pakistan should aggressively raise the issue in the United Nations; it may not sway world public opinion but it would give a boost to the people of Kashmir in their valiant struggle.
Instead of taking our begging bowl to Washington, it would be more dignified to broach the subject of Indian-held Kashmir with the Americans. Richard Holbrooke, if sincere in helping the country, should pressurize India to come to the negotiating table to settle the Kashmir dispute.
There is no doubt that India is a much more powerful country than Pakistan now, and it is economically important for the world, unlike Pakistan, but it does not give India a carte blanche to go on a killing spree in Kashmir. India is guilty of gross human rights violations and it is a pity that the world media and the major human rights organizations like Amnesty and Human Rights Watch are not taking as strong a position as they should. Just compare it with the pressure that the Sri Lankan government is facing for violating the human rights of the Tamils during the war with LTTE last year. Even the United Nations has formed a commission to probe the violations. Why can't the United Nations do the same in the case of Kashmir? Is it because Pakistan is not asking for it, or is it because Muslims are involved in this case? Isn't it about time that the world community realizes that it should take notice of peaceful struggle, lest the protesters realize that the world only notices their pleas when they indulge in armed struggle? 
The writer is a seasoned lawyer and has authored several books.
Anees Jillani is an advocate of the Supreme Court and a member of the Washington, DC Bar. He has been writing for various publications for more than 20 years and has authored several books.
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