The President Azad Kashmir Sardar Masoood Khan has said that Kashmiris and the people of Pakistan are seeking American attention and support for the resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir because of its historical ties with the region and its track record of trying to find a diplomatic solution to the problem in the past. Khan while addressing an event in Washington last week emphasized that Kashmir was a tripartite international issue involving Pakistan, India and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who were the key constituent in the dispute. Kashmiris, he said, were peaceful and peace-loving people and were opposed to terrorism. “Kashmiris do not want Kashmir to become a flash point between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India but want to project it as a symbol of connectivity and harmony for the whole of South Asia”, he said
Presenting a six-point formula to address the egregious human rights situation in Kashmir, he said that the Security Council should discuss the Jammu and Kashmir dispute with a view to activating modalities for holding a plebiscite or referendum in Jammu and Kashmir. In the meantime, the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) should be expanded not just to monitor the situation along the Line of Control but to report on the precarious security situation and deteriorating human rights situation in IOK. India should recognize Kashmir as a dispute and along with other parties try to work for a peaceful solution. For that purpose, India should enter into an open dialogue with Pakistan and Kashmiri leaders. India should withdraw the bulk of its armed forces, Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force from the civilian/urban centres. India should forthwith repeal draconian laws – the Public Safety Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that enable the occupation forces to commit crimes with impunity. India should grant access to a Mission from the UN Human Rights Council as proposed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein.
The AJK president has proposed a comprehensive road-map to address the lingering Kashmir dispute that has been a stumbling block in the way of peace and stability in south Asia. The deadly conflict hanging on for last seven decades has taken heavy toll on Kashmiris ; it is high time that the international community and particularly the US should play its due role to address this conflict that poses grave threat to regional peace. President Khan has rightly pointed out that state terrorism and extremist violence used by India will not resolve the Kashmir issue under any circumstances. Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination is a just a legitimate struggle, which was acknowledged by the world community as well as the leadership of India and Pakistan. And United Nation’s institutional presence in the region in shape of UNMGIP is a testimony to the fact that Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory that awaits final settlement. Being the world’s sole super power the US had played key role in resolving international disputes and one hopes that the Trump administration will pursue a more balanced policy towards the region to seek settlement of disputes. An unbalanced and lopsided approach at the hands of American government will certainly affect balance of power in the region but in such kind of a situation Kashmiris who are reeling under the yoke of Indian imperialism will be the ultimate sufferers. So, instead of getting swayed by the malicious Indian propaganda the policy makers and think tanks in the US should persuade their government to develop and implement conflict resolution policy, which is direly needed to deescalate tension between India and Pakistan. The dream of permanent peace in the region will remain elusive unless practical steps are taken to address Kashmir issue.
