EPIC FAIL: From Rajouri to London, Pakistan and friends' 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' ends up a damp squib

In a massive embarrassment for the months-old Imran Khan government, Pakistan was given a diplomatic cold shoulder by Britain on the so-called 'Kashmir solidarity day' as its attempts to rabble-rouse against India on a global stage found no takers. On Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's first visit to the UK since assuming his new role, he was not only unable to have any engagement with his counterpart Jeremy Hunt, but also had no official engagement with the Theresa May government in general, only managing to participate in an annual anti-India event organised by one of the almost 700 all party parliamentary groups (APPGs) in the UK, the one in question comprising mainly Pakistan-origin MPs. While Qureshi failed in his attempts to project the non-event as though it was official, India took a strong stand against him nonetheless, with the Ministry of External Affairs issuing a demarche. Compounding Pakistan's plight in terms of being taken seriously on the global stage vis-a-vis India, around the same timeframe that Imran's man was being ignored by the UK government, Secretary of State Sajid Javid was signing off on the extradition of the absconding Vijay Mallya. READ | Imran Khan Becomes Pakistan's Prime Minister: Should 'Jihad University' Expect More Funding? It wasn't just on UK soil that Pakistan failed in its designs for a 'Kashmir solidarity day'. In the lead-up to his damp squib in the UK, Qureshi had also dialled separatists on Indian soil. He had first approached Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and attempted to discuss Islamabad's efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue, and later spoke to Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and allegedly apprised him of the then-upcoming meeting on Kashmir in the UK. While Mirwaiz has jumped in enthusiastically, tweeting the following... As Pakistan observes #KashmirSolidarityDay people of Jammu & Kashmir express their gratitude to the state and its people for their vigorous and unwavering support to our democratic struggle for right to self determination.Want to share that the backlash of grave human rights... — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) February 5, 2019 abuses,repression inflicted upon us the people of Kashmir for pursuing our dream is unprecedented ! — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) February 5, 2019 ... the rest of Kashmir has completely rejected Pakistan's and the separatists' calls-to-action, with an anti-India rally that was planned in Rajouri sector near the LoC fizzling out. Imran Khan has continued his attempts to drum up nothings against India, tweeting the following at the end of a listless 'Kashmir Solidarity Day': The brutality of Indian security forces in Occupied Kashmir has rallied all Kashmiris together in their demand for freedom from Indian Occupation. The Indian army is not fighting insurgents but an entire people in IOK. All freedom loving ppl in the world must stand with Kashmiris — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 5, 2019 Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had also held a meeting with his military leaders a day earlier, seemingly still scratching his head for ways to counter a surgicel strike from India: CCC at GHQ. Geo-strategic envmt, Internal Security situation and preparedness along LOC/ WB & Eastern Border reviewed to thwart any misadventure from across. Forum also expressed solidarity with resilient Kashmiri brethren on the eve of Kashmir Day. (1 of 2). pic.twitter.com/8fWYv3OyeI — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 4, 2019 CCC. “While safeguarding bdrs & Op RuF, concurrent focus is now to be on strategising & implementing comprehensive national response against machinations by hostile intelligence agencies/ inimical forces to undo the National gains for peace and stability”, COAS. (2 of 2). pic.twitter.com/aTGV6WzSkV — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 4, 2019 And the Pakistan Army spokesperson also added his two cents: Kashmir remains a long pending unresolved issue on UN agenda since 1948. Decades of atrocities by Indian Occupation Forces have failed to suppress ever strengthening legitimate freedom struggle. Determined Kashmiris shall succeed IA.#KashmirSolidarityDay — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 5, 2019

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EPIC FAIL: From Rajouri to London, Pakistan and friends' 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' ends up a damp squib

In a massive embarrassment for the months-old Imran Khan government, Pakistan was given a diplomatic cold shoulder by Britain on the so-called 'Kashmir solidarity day' as its attempts to rabble-rouse against India on a global stage found no takers.

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