Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan, has said that India’s reluctance to join the new US-led Board of Peace is not due to procedural differences, but a strategic fear of being held accountable for human rights violations in Kashmir.
Masood Khan, who has also served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations and the United States, stressed on Wednesday that New Delhi is deliberately avoiding open opposition to the peace board. He said there is a perception in diplomatic circles that India is wary of the platform’s broad mandate, which could potentially bring long-standing conflicts like Jammu and Kashmir to the forefront, alongside the Gaza crisis.
The former diplomat said that India fears the Kashmir conflict could once again be highlighted internationally under a new global peace framework. He cited India’s long-standing opposition to third-party mediation and its efforts to undermine UN Security Council resolutions that uphold the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Masood Khan attributed India’s growing unease to the emerging peace order during the tenure of US President Donald Trump and a simultaneous cooling of relations with Washington. He described disagreements over US tariffs, India’s purchase of Russian oil, and differing strategic priorities as factors that have strained bilateral ties.
In response to this pressure, Masood Khan claimed that India is forming alternative alliances, including strengthening ties with Europe, engaging in closer cooperation with Russia, and participating in new regional initiatives like IMEC. However, he described these moves as a “reflection of uncertainty rather than confidence.”
Regarding the Board of Peace, Masood Khan described Pakistan’s inclusion as a significant diplomatic achievement that has enhanced Islamabad’s global political standing. However, he advised caution, stressing the need to link any discussion on Kashmir to existing UN Security Council resolutions to prevent the international legal framework from being undermined.
He described Pakistan’s foreign policy as a year of “pragmatism and flexibility.” Under this approach, Islamabad will contribute to peacekeeping and humanitarian aid but will not be involved in peace enforcement or arms confiscation, including any action against Hamas.
Masood Khan commented that the Board of Peace’s credibility would face its “real test” in Gaza, citing major challenges such as ensuring a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. He also described the growing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran as a “serious threat” to regional stability, with potential repercussions for Pakistan.
Concluding his remarks, Masood Khan emphasized that the Kashmir issue is a central pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He warned that the stakes could rise for New Delhi if the matter is debated internationally in India’s absence from the peace board, stating that “global orders change, but injustices do not automatically disappear.”