While more and more voices are emanating for resolution of lingering Kashmir dispute, the Indian side appears to be in no mood to shun its intransigence and accept ground realities. At the Munich Security Conference, US Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that Kashmir dispute should be resolved between two democracies. He was apparently referring to India and Pakistan. However the Indian External Affairs Minister countered the US Senator arguing it is only up to ‘one democracy’ (India) to settle it.
The very remarks have once again proved that New Delhi has no respect for international laws and UN resolutions. It is an undeniable fact that Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute and its resolution only lies in the UN Security Council resolutions which give the right of self determination to the Kashmiri people. It was in fact India which had taken the matter to the world body but the regrettable part is that the country has not honoured the pledges made by its founding leaders to the Kashmiri people. The recent UN Security Council closed door meetings on the issue have once again proved that it is not an internal matter of India. The fact is that New Delhi is only one party to the dispute. And actually it is the Kashmiri people who have to decide their future and sooner the Indian side realises and accept the right of self determination of Kashmiri people will be better for the peace and prosperity of the whole region. As the US President is all set to visit India later this month, there is expectation in Pakistan that he will translate his words of mediation into action. We expect that he will not only raise the issue with the Indian PM but also use his influence on him, compelling the Indian side to end its reign of terror and oppression in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and move towards its permanent resolution.
