MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Former President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and senior diplomat, Sardar Masood Khan, has stressed that the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel must not divert global attention from the long-standing and volatile Kashmir issue.
He warned that the global community cannot afford to ignore the fact that the Kashmir dispute lies between two nuclear-armed neighbors — Pakistan and India — who have already fought multiple wars on the issue.
In an interview, Sardar Masood Khan emphasized that the recent military tensions between Pakistan and India once again underscored the urgent need for a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir conflict.
He cautioned that continued international apathy, as witnessed in the past, could result in another war – a scenario that would have catastrophic consequences not only for South Asia but for global peace and security.
He urged the world community to ensure that Kashmir remains a priority on the agenda of the global forums, and that pressure is increased on India to engage in meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with Pakistan.
Sardar Masood Khan stated that the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are pursuing their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with international law and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
He criticized the Indian government for consistently labeling this indigenous and lawful struggle as terrorism to mislead global public opinion.
US president on Kashmir issue
He also referred to recent remarks by the US President advocating for a resolution to the Kashmir issue, terming it a positive development and urging Pakistan to leverage this momentum to mount diplomatic pressure on India through the United States.
Responding to a question regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Sardar Masood Khan asserted that India’s unilateral suspension of the agreement is both illegal and contrary to the spirit of the treaty itself.
He explained that there are multiple legal and diplomatic mechanisms available to address this issue including the Permanent Indus Commission, mediation through the World Bank, and the United Nations Security Council.
He warned: “If India attempts to divert the flow of rivers, construct illegal dams, or block Pakistan’s water, it will gravely endanger regional peace and stability”.
Commenting on a recent suggestion by PPP Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, proposing a joint anti-terrorism mechanism between India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Masood Khan said he was not fully aware of the context and background of the statement.
However, he noted that such cooperation would be extremely difficult under the current circumstances due to severe lack of mutual trust.
He added that India’s continuous hostile rhetoric, anti-Pakistan propaganda, and the use of derogatory language by senior officials including the Indian External Affairs Minister are exacerbating mistrust between the two countries and obstructing diplomatic engagement.
