‘Kashmir fulfills all factors of a viable sovereign state’

• Dr Mir points out future “nuclear holocaust” in South Asia

World Kashmir Awareness Forum President Dr Ghulam N Mir has said that Kashmir is a large, resourceful, cultured and multicultural nation and it needs no Indian interference, as it fulfills all the parameters of a viable sovereign state as per the United Nations charter.

“To deny that right of sovereignty to millions of Kashmiri people is a travesty of justice. It violates the letter and intent of the UN charter. By refusing to implement the UN Security Council resolutions, India violates its international obligation,” he said while addressing the 55th annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

He pointed out that the UN resolution demand cessation of the military actions, demilitarisation and allowing the Kashmiri people to decide their future through an unfettered referendum or plebiscite under the UN supervision. Dr Mir called Indian occupation the most consequential political blunder the Indian government has made.

About Pakistan and India wars, he said that it may not be a conventional war in future but a nuclear holocaust, a war of mutual annihilation and a war of mutually assured destruction. “So, what are the Kashmiris under occupation thinking? What do they want? What would they settle for by way of a solution to their future? All you have to do is to read the news stories from Kashmir. You will get an idea,” he said.

“Kashmiris have no choice but to hang tough, keep making the sacrifices, keep hope for the best solution to emerge. There is no military solution to Kashmir issue. Indian forces have to leave; Kashmir has to be united to make it whole again. Peace cannot come until Kashmir is demilitarised and a plebiscite held under UN supervision,” Dr Mir explained.

Kashmiri American Council President Professor Dr Imtiaz Khan described the historical facts about Kashmir, saying the Kashmiri people were promised by both Pakistan and India with the firm support of the world powers to be given the right to self-determination to choose whether they want to go to India or Pakistan or remain independent.

“The world powers need to intervene in setting a stage for the resolution of Kashmir before Pakistan and India indulge in a full-fledged war which will be a monumental disaster that will engulf not only the region but large part of the world,” he concluded.

World Kashmir Awareness Forum Secretary General Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai said that the Kashmir issue was one of the oldest issues pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Its occupation by India has been left undisturbed by the international community, even though its validity has never been accepted, he said.

“At no stage, have the Kashmiri people shown themselves to be reconciled to India’s occupation. There is only one way of just and honourable peace the way chalked out in the international agreements that the future will be decided by the Kashmiri people,” he said. Only the exertion of the necessary moral pressure by the world powers, particularly the United States will lead the parties to that way, he said.

Dr MA Dhar showed a short video about the atrocities being committed by the Indian Army on the Kashmiri population. He said that everyday, unspeakable atrocities occur at the hands of India’s army of occupation. He stressed that it was time to mitigate the sufferings of the Kashmiri people, who had been pledged UN-sponsored plebiscite, which has been denied to them.