Dr. Deepak Kapoor
The Parliamentary Resolution adopted unanimously on 22 February 1994 on Jammu & Kashmir remains one of independent India’s most significant diplomatic assertions. Passed during a period of intense militancy and heightened international scrutiny, the resolution reaffirmed that Jammu & Kashmir “has been, is and shall be an integral part of India.”
Background: Escalating International Pressure
The early 1990s were marked by escalating militancy in Jammu & Kashmir and a sustained diplomatic campaign by Pakistan. Under Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan intensified efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, raising allegations of human rights violations and pushing for implementation of UN resolutions.
Statements by certain U.S. officials at the time, including Robin Raphel and John Malott, were viewed in India as lending weight to Pakistan’s narrative. Meanwhile, Pakistan mobilised support within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and prepared to move a resolution against India at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNHRC) in Geneva in early 1994.
For India, which was still stabilising its economy after the 1991 balance-of-payments crisis and economic reforms, the prospect of international censure or sanctions posed a serious concern.
The Parliamentary Response
In this climate, Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao sought to forge a united national position. On 22 February 1994, both Houses of Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution declaring:
o Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India.
o India possesses the will and capacity to counter threats to its unity and territorial integrity.
o Pakistan must vacate areas of the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir under its occupation.
o Any interference in India’s internal affairs would be met resolutely.
The unanimity of the resolution – across ruling and opposition parties – sent a clear message domestically and internationally that India’s political spectrum stood united on the question of sovereignty.
Geneva Diplomacy: A Strategic Move
Anticipating Pakistan’s move at the UNHRC in March 1994, India mounted an unprecedented diplomatic effort. A multi-party delegation was dispatched to Geneva, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Leader of the Opposition, Farooq Abdullah, Manmohan Singh, and Hamid Ansari.
The inclusion of opposition leaders and representatives from Jammu & Kashmir strengthened India’s case by demonstrating national consensus.
Simultaneously, Indian diplomacy engaged key countries, including Iran and Indonesia, to counter Pakistan’s lobbying within the OIC. As support for Pakistan’s draft resolution weakened, the arithmetic at Geneva appeared unfavourable to Islamabad.
Facing the likelihood of defeat, Pakistan eventually withdrew its resolution at the UNHRC in March 1994.
Strategic Implications
The events of February-March 1994 are widely regarded by many analysts as a significant diplomatic success for India for several reasons:
- National Unity on Sovereignty – The unanimous resolution projected rare political consensus.
- International Positioning – India successfully resisted efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue.
- Economic Safeguarding – Avoiding adverse international action was critical at a time of economic restructuring.
- Long-Term Policy Marker – The 1994 resolution remains an official parliamentary assertion regarding Pakistan-occupied territories.
A Defining Moment
More than three decades later, the 22 February 1994 resolution stands as a defining parliamentary assertion on Jammu & Kashmir. Under the leadership of P. V. Narasimha Rao, India combined political unity with diplomatic engagement to counter a potentially damaging international challenge.
For many observers, the episode remains a textbook example of how domestic consensus can translate into diplomatic strength on the global stage.
(The writer is president of PoJK Visthapit Sewa Samati, J&K)