Kashmir is the key to peace and stability in the region, and the future of the region depends on justice, freedom and the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their destiny,” said Sardar Masood Khan, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar titled “The Kashmir Conflict: A Historical Perspective and the Way Forward,” organised at Cadet College Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in connection with Kashmir Black Day, observed on October 27. Addressing the cadets, faculty members, researchers and distinguished panellists, Khan underscored the importance of understanding the historical roots of the Kashmir dispute. He recalled that October 27, 1947, marked the arrival of Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir, an event that, he said, fundamentally altered the course of the dispute and the lives of its people.
Ambassador Khan discussed the circumstances surrounding the events of 1947, including the controversy over the accession of Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent internationalisation of the dispute at the United Nations. He emphasised that the people of Jammu and Kashmir must remain at the centre of any meaningful resolution and highlighted the international commitments associated with their right to determine the territory’s future.
Reflecting on the historical experience of Kashmiris, he referred to the region’s longstanding struggle for political rights and freedom. He also recalled the suffering and displacement experienced by communities during the violence of 1947, stressing that historical awareness was essential to understanding the conflict in its entirety.
Ambassador Khan expressed concern over the continuing humanitarian and political challenges in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, particularly following India’s August 5, 2019, actions concerning the territory’s special constitutional status. He urged students and faculty members to study historical records, international law and United Nations documents to develop an informed understanding of the dispute.
He described Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as strategically important territories and acknowledged the sacrifices made by Kashmiris over generations. He stressed that peace in South Asia would remain difficult to achieve without addressing the Kashmir dispute through a just and peaceful process.
Turning to the wider international order, Khan encouraged the cadets to think beyond regional boundaries and prepare for a changing global environment. He highlighted the importance of international cooperation, collective responsibility and principled diplomacy in addressing conflicts and humanitarian crises.
Concluding his remarks, Khan urged the young cadets to remain courageous, think ambitiously and contribute to Pakistan’s progress through education, unity and leadership. He emphasised that national strength must rest not only on defence capabilities but also on economic development, technological advancement and institutional continuity.
