Kashmir has been a longstanding unresolved issue for the last many decades with a potential of not only becoming a regional catastrophe but also a great threat to the international peace. In this age of ours, economy is the politics and basis of friendship between nations. But dispute is the enemy of peace as well as economic and trade activities at any place in the world.
India is embarking on an ambitious plan to become a world leader and get permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, but it has to overcome its inherent fragilities and historical rigidity.It will also have to go a long way to achieve the cherished goal of a world leader which is not possible without the help of Pakistan.It has to break its stubbornness to establish regional peace and close friendship with Pakistan and without it the dream of a regional economic community cannot be fulfilled.
In his message on the Kashmir solidarity day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged the UN General Assembly and international community to play their role in redressing the plight of Kashmiri people.Kashmir is a disputed territory and India has accepted this in the United Nations, but practically it is denying the Kashmiris right to self-termination. Most of the countries support Kashmiris independence struggle and want India to resolve the issue according to the UN resolutions. The Kashmiris right to self-determination is reveredby the UN resolutions, but 67 years have been passed due to India’s dilly-dally tactics and the matter remains unresolved until know.
As a matter of fact, only a just resolution of the dispute can ensure a lasting peace in South Asia and development and progress of this region lies in the resolution of this issue.Pakistan wants friendly relations with all the countries, especiallywith India to concentrate on the economic development of the region and the country itself. However, Pakistan can never leave Kashmiris in lurch come what may.
At a time when peace offensive have started all over the world, it is unfortunate that this region is still servitude of the past events. On his part, the prime minister has reaffirmed his support for the people of Kashmir in their struggle to achieve their inherent right to self-determination.A new hardliner government is in place in India which has no regard for peace and tranquility in the region. Peace is the only panacea of the economic ills and Indian leadership should understand this more than Pakistan as it has the largest number of poor population in the world.
