Advancing The Kashmir Cause.

If Nelson Mandela were among us today, he would have added Kashmiris' struggle against India to the speech he made in Pretoria in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Mandela's edited text would read, 'We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of Palestinians 'and Kashmiris.'' It is welcome to note that Pakistan's new envoy to the United Nations (UN), Munir Akram, has made advancing the legitimate struggle of the people of Indian held Kashmir for liberation his chief mission.

But the task before Pakistan's Ambassador is a daunting one. The issue is far more complicated than Israel-Palestine conflict. Mr Munir Akram and his team at the UN will face many challenges in this task. However, as he said that opportunities always accompany challenges, one can hope that he will leave no stone unturned to advance the Kashmir cause.

Nevertheless, the situation is changing swiftly. Islamabad's envoy to the UN must realise that time is of the essence. If Islamabad's team fails to utilise the time and exploit the dramatic own goal made by Modi's government, Kashmir cause can suffer serious defeats. Pakistan's Ambassador needs to keep in mind that after the high point of the UN session, the international attention on Kashmir has fallen off. India's belligerence is not subsiding any time soon as is evident from the recent bifurcation of the region. Despite the...