ARTICLE: "So The Khan reckons Kashmir will fall into his lap and if that happens he will go down in history..."

"Indeed but he has three years to go so Modi has to do a lot worse and China has to get a lot more belligerent with India than is happening today...."

"Don't underestimate Modi."

"Under or over estimate his penchant for making enemies in the region?!"

"Well it's the battle of the map launched by Modi - he included Kalapani-Lipulekh area in an Indian political map on 2 November, 2019 and formally inaugurated roadways to Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh pass on May 8, 2020 which angered Nepal; and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal stepped in recently to stay the fracturing of the ruling communist party..."

"Right, and in August 2019 the Indian government launched its National Register of Citizens which raised serious concerns in Bangladesh over possible migration of 1.9 million people in Assam who were no longer Indian citizens. China is now engaged in development projects in Bangladesh..."

"Hmmm and in October 2018 President of Sri Lanka Sirisena accused India's RAW of plotting to kill him though recently he stated in the presence of Modi that India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour and friend, 'our destinies are linked' he said but nonetheless China has emerged as a player in the development of Sri Lanka, especially ports,..."

"That leaves Maldives and here too China has begun making some inroads through extending needed loans, of about 1.4 billion dollars..."

"Right and then there is Iran and Chabahar."

"Right and of course the Indo-China conflict in Ladakh and nothing needs to be said of Indo-Pakistan conflict so what do you reckon? Will The Khan liberate Kashmir?"

"India is looking to the West, which terms itself the international community, and those countries it buys oil from to support it or at least to remain quiet on human rights abuses in Kashmir and the passage of NRC...."

"The Khan says that he explained to these Western countries, why are you laughing?"

"I assume he spoke extempore and therefore hope he didn't refer to any geography or history material...."

"Stop, don't be facetious, The Khan did say that his government has made great inroads in internationalizing the Kashmir issue...."

"And you said he doesn't understand politics! My friend even though the policies relating to India and Kashmir were never the domain of civilian governments and even though we need to be thankful to China for Modi's troubles...."

"Stop it I will not listen to your flawed narrative and..."

"And I shut up."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020