Author: Bharti Jain | TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 16, 2016
URL:   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-reason-to-mince-words-on-Kashmir-any-more-Experts/articleshow/53716301.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOIIndiaNews

Intelligence experts see the Prime Minister's aggressive line on the Kashmir issue as a clear message that Pakistan's meddling in India's internal matters (such as J&K) will be countered by showing Islamabad the mirror on POK, Gilgit and Balochistan.

"It's a shift from being on the back foot to coming out and claiming what's legally right.Our agencies have been following the injustices in these regions, yet diplomatically we've acted with restraint. Given that Islamabad glorifies terrorists in J&K as `martyrs and freedom fighters', uses the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani to extend `moral, political and diplomatic' support to the Kashmiri struggle for `self-determination', we see no reason to mince words in highlighting POK and Balochistan," an intelligence officer says.

Sources say India's aggressive line on POK is well thought out. It comes after giving Pakistan time to respond to its peace overtures. "While we were ready to talk peace and do business with Pakistan all this while, there was absolutely no positive response from Pakistan. In fact, Pakistan went out of its way to poke its nose into Kashmir. The policy shift marks us telling Pakistan point blank if you can question us on an internal matter, we can very well corner you on Balochistan and POK," an officer says.

Former intelligence officer Arun Chaudhary , who once headed the Intelligence Bureau's J&K unit, welcomed the decision to be more aggressive on POK and Balochistan saying it is India's way of saying: "If you can provoke, so can we"."Indian intelligence agencies have shown some interest in all three areas: POK, Gilgit and Balochistan and have been successful to a large extent. It is high time we turned aggressive. I foresee these issues being raised at the UN General Assembly next month," Chaudhary says. "Even today , when the PM said it, the diplomats were sitting right there," he says.

R&AW chief Vikram Sood's tweet says, "PM Modi's statement on Balochistan, POK and Gilgit-Baltistan will be a qualitative shift in our policy if we sustain this approach".