Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has warned that the unresolved Kashmir conflict has created a situation akin to a “state of war,” and accused India of adopting a dual strategy of direct and proxy aggression against Pakistan despite an apparent ceasefire.
Addressing an event on Kashmir, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan said today that national unity, a coherent strategy, and continuous international diplomatic engagement are essential to resolve this long-standing conflict in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Khan, who has also served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, argued that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have earned their right to self-determination through nearly two centuries of struggle and unparalleled sacrifices, a right that he believes transcends any legal arguments at international forums.
He clarified that Pakistan’s official stance on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict is based on the United Nations Charter, Security Council resolutions, international human rights treaties, and other legal conventions. However, Khan emphasized that the Kashmir case is fundamentally based on justice, and termed India an “occupying power” involved in “serious and systematic human rights violations.”
Differentiating from another prominent international issue, the former ambassador said that while Palestine enjoys broad support in the UN General Assembly and has observer state status, the Kashmir conflict has not received similar organized or effective global support.
Citing his extensive diplomatic experience, Khan mentioned the historical origins of the freedom movement, calling the 1832 revolt against forced labor and the martyrdom of 22 Kashmiris in Srinagar on July 13, 1931, a pivotal moment that transformed scattered resistance into an organized movement. He stressed that since then, global political interests have been a key factor in preventing the Kashmiri people from exercising their right to self-determination.
Looking ahead, Khan outlined a strategic framework for 2026, which includes promoting scholarly research on Kashmir, raising the issue more frequently in the UN Security Council, and shaping the freedom movement into a global civil rights campaign.
The proposed strategy also emphasizes consolidating diplomatic gains, reactivating the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, and garnering support for effective third-party mediation from Europe, the US, Russia, and China. Citing past offers of facilitation from world leaders, he concluded that sustained and effective diplomatic pressure is indispensable for achieving any meaningful negotiations.