Kashmir’s intractable challenge had to be met: Jaishankar

Washington: The revocation of special status of Kashmir was part of India pitting “long-term thinking over short-term calculations”, which involved “deep structural changes and ambitious socio-economic initiatives” and what also “what were presumed to be intractable challenges” had to be addressed, “not ducked”, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said.
Addressing the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, on the topic, “Preparing for a Different Era”, he said: “Preparing for a more competitive and complex era will require a different mindset. For a nation like India, this would be in addition to the changes induced by its climb up the global power hierarchy.
“As a broad approach, it will be reflected in the primacy of long-term thinking over short-term calculations. It would encourage undertaking deep structural changes and ambitious socio-economic initiatives that can transform both habits and attitudes.
“In this world, what were presumed to be intractable challenges will have to be addressed, not ducked. An example to point is that of the recent changes in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir.” On Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir, he said that for many years, “India sought a solution while Pakistan was comfortable with continuing with cross-border terrorism”.
“The choice as this Government came back to power was clear. Either we had more of past policies and the prospect of further radicalization. Or we had a decisive change in the landscape and a change of direction towards de-radicalization.