Congress says it’s time to re-adopt the resolution from Parliament that asserts the right to PoK. A look at the origins of that

You are currently viewing Congress says it’s time to re-adopt the resolution from Parliament that asserts the right to PoK. A look at the origins of that
The resolution was adopted in 1994 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.(Source: indianexpress.com)

In 1994, Kashmir was at the height of militancy, A B Vajpayee of the BJP was the LoP, and Cong leader Narasimha Rao was the prime minister.

Following Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire announcement in the India-Pakistan conflict, the Congress party, while questioning the United States’ role in brokering the cessation of hostilities, called for a unanimous reaffirmation of the 1994 parliamentary resolution on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“The Congress party has long demanded a special Parliament session. We must reiterate the 1994 resolution, when all parties unanimously declared that Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and we are committed to reclaiming it,” said Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Sachin Pilot during a press conference on Sunday.

The 1994 resolution, passed under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao (Congress) with support from Leader of the Opposition Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BJP), symbolized national unity at a pivotal moment in India-Pakistan relations.

Historical Context

In his book, The People Next Door: The Curious History of India-Pakistan Relations, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan provides insight into the circumstances surrounding the 1994 resolution.

In 1993, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by Benazir Bhutto, returned to power in Pakistan, prompting a brief attempt to rekindle diplomatic engagement between the two nations. In January 1994, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met for talks. However, as Raghavan notes, the meeting was “doomed to failure” due to escalating tensions in the Kashmir Valley.

At the time, militancy was rampant in Kashmir, compounded by the October 1993 Hazratbal shrine crisis. A group of militants had barricaded themselves inside the shrine, holding approximately 150 pilgrims, including women and children, hostage. They demanded safe passage, threatening to destroy the mosque and the sacred relic of the Holy Prophet if their demands were unmet, writes Raghavan. The incident underscored the volatility in the region, setting the stage for the unified parliamentary resolution.