ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Masood Khan, former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has called for renewed national unity, collective resolve, and robust global engagement to advance the cause of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a wide-ranging address in Islamabad, he said: “This is a decisive moment — one that demands clarity, courage, and unity. We must not allow fatigue, division, or despair to dilute our struggle.”
He emphasized that the recent India-Pakistan conflict had fundamentally altered strategic realities, reinforcing Pakistan’s credibility and strengthening global recognition of the Kashmiri struggle.
“For decades we were told that India was too powerful to challenge,” he said and added, “Yet the war revealed the resilience of Pakistan’s armed forces, the determination of its people, and the indomitable spirit of the Kashmiris.”
Ambassador Khan highlighted the international community’s growing scrutiny of India’s actions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He cited recent findings by human rights experts in Geneva, who documented unlawful detentions, home demolitions, economic strangulation, and widespread use of draconian laws such as the PSA and UAPA.
“The world is awake,” he noted and added, “India can no longer hide behind propaganda. Its violations are visible, recorded, and condemned.”
He also recalled US President Donald Trump’s recent public statements acknowledging the gravity of the conflict and the centrality of the Kashmir issue.
Kashmiri leadership
He urged Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership to use this geopolitical opening to amplify international diplomatic engagement across the UN Security Council, Human Rights Council, and global parliaments.
Ambassador Masood Khan paid special tribute to Mussarat Alam Bhatt, describing him as “one of the most heroic, steadfast, and uncompromising leaders of the Kashmiri freedom movement.”
He praised Mussarat Alam for his courage in the face of decades of imprisonment, persecution, and relentless state repression, noting that he remains an inspiration to every Kashmiri striving for dignity and self-determination.
“Mussarat Alam Bhatt represents the moral conscience of the Kashmiri struggle,” he said. “His sacrifice, clarity, and unwavering resolve continue to guide our movement.”
Ambassador Khan also recognized incarcerated leaders including Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi, and others suffering under India’s punitive detention system.
He stressed that Pakistan and Kashmiris worldwide stand united in demanding their release and honouring their sacrifices.
