Resolving The Kashmir Conflict.

Jammu and Kashmir is situated in the heart of Asia, connecting South and Central Asia. It is the only state in the world thats its border with three nuclear states; Pakistan, India, and China. Kashmir, termed a nuclear flash point, has endangered regional as well as international peace and security. The resolution of this dispute can unlock the true potential of regional development and cooperation, as well as address the looming challenges faced by the South Asian masses. For more than seven decades, the Kashmiri people have struggled to achieve their absolute right of self-determination assured to them by the UN Security Council, the international community, and both India and Pakistan, the parties to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Unfortunately, India defies its commitment to hold a free and fair plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations to let the Kashmiris decide their future. The main objective of UN formation was to ensure world peace, if the Kashmir issue is not resolved it can have a grave threat to world peace especially because of non-action by the United Nations.

Moreover, India has been changing its policy objectives and tactics over time according to periodic developments. Undoubtedly, the Kashmir dispute has become a complicated issue due to India, which has exercised overwhelming influence over its policies since the partition. The world has witnessed India's unilateral and illegal action to revoke articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution, which not only violates the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir but also the bilateral Shimla agreement and the Lahore Declaration between Pakistan-India. Furthermore, India has deployed nearly one million troops to impose a military siege on eight million Kashmiris, imprisoned the Kashmiri political leadership, and detained thousands of Kashmiri youth. India has banned international media and observers on IIOJK reporting which has created an environment of fear and chaos. The right to self-determination is a fundamental human right, from which all other rights flow and it is sad to say that this right is denied to Kashmiris for too many generations.

However, despite the restriction, communications blackout, and denial of access, much has been written and reported regarding the human rights conditions in IIOJK. World leaders have spoken out on human rights violations in IIOJK. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has extensively documented this in...