MUZAFFARABAD, (Parliament Times): “Kashmir is not forgotten—it remains a global issue, but the skewed international balance of power continues to stifle the voice of Kashmiris,” said Sardar Masood Khan, Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations.
In a special interview with Radio Pakistan, Ambassador Khan called for sustained, structured efforts across diplomatic forums to ensure Kashmir returns to the global agenda, particularly through forums like the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and international platforms such as the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Commenting on the failure of bilateralism, Khan asserted that India’s longstanding tactic has been to present Kashmir as a bilateral matter to the international community—only to then deny its very existence when engaged at the negotiating table.
“When Kashmiris seek their rights, they are labelled rebels and traitors. This is the tragedy of India’s two-faced strategy,” he said. He urged Pakistanis, Kashmiris, and the global diaspora to strengthen their efforts, emphasizing that the time has come for a new era of resistance and strategic clarity.
Reflecting on past peace initiatives, including the Musharraf-Manmohan Singh formula, he stated that such models are obsolete under the current Indian government led by Narendra Modi and driven by extremist forces like the RSS.
“Even under more favourable circumstances, that formula sought to freeze the status quo—not resolve it. Today, it would provoke fierce opposition and bury the Kashmir cause,” he cautioned.
Pakistan’s principled position on Kashmir’s sovereignty
Ambassador Khan strongly reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled position on Kashmir’s sovereignty. “Under the 1947 Indian Independence Act, UN Charter, and international law, the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir rightfully belongs to Pakistan,” he emphasized.
He criticized the distortion of legal and historical facts by India and reiterated that the will of the Kashmiri people must be central to any future political arrangement.
He further called for reinvigorating Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, including a year-round civil rights movement to safeguard and project the rights of the Kashmiri people.
“Marking October 27th as a Black Day or February 5th as Solidarity Day is not enough. The struggle must be continuous and visible—every day of the year,” he stated.
“Without sustained advocacy from the people of Pakistan, Kashmiris, and the diaspora, the world will not listen, and India’s occupation will persist.”
Ambassador Masood Khan concluded by calling for ownership and responsibility: “The onus is on us. Our struggle must reflect the legitimacy of our cause. Only then can we move the conscience of the international community and bring Kashmir back to the table of global justice.”
