Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has declared the Kashmir dispute as the primary barrier to peaceful relations between Pakistan and India, as well as to the broader peace and development of the South Asian region.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas addressed a group of youth in Srinagar, emphasizing that genuine peace, economic growth, and harmonious relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors, Pakistan and India, hinge on progress in resolving the Kashmir issue.

Minhas articulated the APHC’s desire for amicable ties between the two countries and expressed support for any initiatives aimed at addressing the protracted Kashmir conflict. He underscored that a resolution could only be achieved through dialogue involving Pakistan, India, and authentic Kashmiri leadership, in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

He urged the international community to recognize and address human rights violations in the region, noting that those responsible for extrajudicial killings since 1989 remain unpunished. Minhas stressed that the Kashmir conflict cannot be settled through the establishment of powerless regimes or the appointment of a so-called Lieutenant Governor, but rather through tripartite dialogue in line with UN resolutions.