Washington D.C, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the Washington-based World Forum for Peace and Justice, has emphasized the urgent need for the United Nations to focus on the unresolved Kashmir dispute, citing it as a major source of tension in South Asia. This call comes in light of recent statements by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, regarding the organization’s priorities for 2024, which notably did not include Kashmir despite its critical status.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Fai acknowledged the UN Secretary General’s commitment to peace, as expressed in his priorities for the coming year, but expressed concern over the exclusion of Kashmir from these priorities. This omission, As per Dr. Fai, risks emboldening India’s stance towards Kashmir and undermines the efforts to address the conflict through peaceful means. He highlighted the contradiction in overlooking such a significant dispute when the UN’s mission is to foster international peace and security.

Dr. Fai reminisced about the Secretary General’s statement from August 10, 2019, which affirmed that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the UN Charter and applicable Security Council resolutions. He argued that the failure to include Kashmir among the priority areas for 2024 could inadvertently support India’s oppressive tactics in the region and neglect the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.

Moreover, Dr. Fai pointed out that Kashmir is internationally recognized as a disputed territory, with its final status yet to be determined. He stressed that the resolution of this dispute aligns with the principles of democracy and self-determination, advocating for a free and impartial plebiscite as previously agreed upon by India.

In his plea to the UN Secretary General, Dr. Fai emphasized the dire situation of the Kashmiri people, who suffer from oppression and seek the UN’s intervention to protect their rights. He urged the initiation of a peace process involving India, Pakistan, and the genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people to settle the conflict, underlining the crucial role of the UN in facilitating such a dialogue for the sake of international peace and security.