Washington: Leading Kashmiri and international scholars have reaffirmed their stance that a United Nations-supervised plebiscite is the sole fair resolution to the Kashmir dispute, as prescribed by the UN resolutions of January 5, 1949.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Imtiaz Khan, a Kashmiri-American scholar, pointed out that the ongoing Kashmir conflict, located in the world’s most militarized area, poses a threat to global peace due to the involvement of three nuclear-armed nations. He criticized the UN for failing to implement its resolutions and called out the international community for neglecting the plight of Kashmiris under Indian oppression. Dr. Khan asserted that the only viable path is a plebiscite under UN supervision, dismissing any regional elections as insufficient.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace and Justice, referenced UN resolutions that affirm the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, cautioning that the denial of this right has perpetuated violence and poses a risk of genocide in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the UN Security Council to address the issue to prevent a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.
Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, emphasized that sustainable peace in South Asia depends on resolving the Kashmir issue. He accused India of defying UN resolutions and called for international measures to ensure a free and fair referendum for Kashmiris.
Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, reminded the international community of the promise made to Kashmiris regarding their right to determine their future, a promise that remains unfulfilled.
Other speakers, including Sardar Shoaib Irshad and Sardar Zubair Khan from the Kashmir American Welfare Association, appealed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special envoy to evaluate the situation in Kashmir and report the findings to the Security Council.
The experts collectively urged immediate international intervention to uphold justice and prevent further suffering in the region.