Germantown, Maryland. (TW) _ “The Kashmir dispute has an international dimension because it has the sanctity of the UN Charter and UN Security Council resolutions and has become a big hurdle or obstacle in the growth and stability of both India and Pakistan. The unresolved conflict over Kashmir threatens the international peace and security of the world. It is far past time for the UN to take forceful action in order to restore peace to Kashmir and revive the faith of common people that it is an agency that can live up to its bold charter and mission of bringing peace and stability to the world,” stated Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice at Germantown Center, at Germantown, Maryland.
Dr. Fai added that Kashmir issue has received the bipartisan support by the United States Administration at the United Nations right from 1948. The following considerations are most pertinent for understanding the deeper involvement of the United States with Kashmir dispute.
“When the Kashmir dispute erupted in 948, Dr. Fai explained, the United States championed the stand that the future status of Kashmir must be ascertained in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the territory. The United States was the principal sponsor of the resolution # 47 which was adopted by the Security Council on 21 April 1948, and which was based on that unchallenged principle. Following the resolution, the United States as a leading member of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), adhered to that stand. The basic formula for settlement was incorporated in the resolutions of that Commission adopted on 13 August 1948 and 5 January 1949.
The part played traditionally by the United States Government is apparent from: The appeal made by President Harry Truman that any contentious issues between India and Pakistan relating to the implementation of the agreement on Kashmir must be submitted to arbitration. The appeal personally made in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to the President of Ireland to the effect that Ireland sponsors a resolution on Kashmir in the Security Council reaffirming the resolutions of the Commission.
The clarification made by President George W. Bush on February 22, 2006, when he said that “First, I’d like to make sure I clarify my statement for all to read. America supports a solution that is acceptable to all sides— I said, “to both sides.” The language should be “all sides,” because it recognizes that a solution must be acceptable to India, Pakistan, and those living within Kashmir.”
Dr, Fai spelled out that the following statements of American presidents clearly indicate a desire to take on more active role on Kashmir. On November 6, 2008, President Obama said he might consider appointing former President Bill Clinton as special envoy on Jammu and Kashmir in an effort to resolve the decades-old Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. President Obama indicated his intention to make such a move in an interview with Joe Klein of ‘Time’ magazine ahead of his election as president. Then again on November 8, 2010, President Obama said Kashmir was the long-standing dispute. “I have indicated to Prime Minister (of India) that we are happy to play any role the parties think is appropriate in reducing tensions. It is in the interest of the two countries, region and the US;”
Dr. Fai quoted President-Donald Trump who said on October 17, 2016, during his first presidential campaign in New jersey that, “he’d be willing to play a mediating role in addressing the “very, very hot tinderbox” of Kashmir between India and Pakistan. “If it was necessary, I would do that. If we could get India and Pakistan getting along, I would be honored to do that. That would be a tremendous achievement … I think if they wanted me to, I would love to be the mediator or arbitrator.” Since then, President Trump repeated his offer of mediation three times, last time on August 20, 2019.
Even President Nelson Mandela categorically made it clear at the NAM Summit in Durban on September 2, 1998, that “All of us remain concerned that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be solved through peaceful negotiations and should be willing to lend all the strength we have to the resolution of this matter.” Likewise, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 3, 2004, that “India and Pakistan should resolve Kashmir dispute in the interest of peace in South Asia and the rest of the world.”
Let me make it clear that the official policy of the United States towards Kashmir has always been encouraging. However, the United States never articulated the principal policy towards Kashmir into a tangible and achievable specific goal. That bipartisan support that Kashmir has received since `1948 needs to be re-established and strengthened.
Fai pointed out that recently, we have witnessed the barbaric situation in Pahalgam, Kashmir when the terrorists killed 26 innocent Indian tourists. Terrorism must be condemned in all it shades and manifestation. These acts of terrorism were condemned by all including the United Nations. Since then, the soldiers of India and Pakistan have drawn their guns out of their holsters resulting in a tense silence hanging in the air. Both India and Pakistan are on war footing.
International mediation at this time is very crucial. It’s very clear that Kashmir needs a strong and determined will and the genius of an imagination that has the negotiating skills and knows how to bring India and Pakistan together. That person could be none other than President Donald J Trump who could help not only in diffusing the tension but also helping to settle the Kashmir dispute once for all.
Dr. Imtiaz Khan, Kashmiri American scholar said that the United Nations resolutions succinctly define the solution to the long-standing Kashmir problem. Successive presidents of United States have impressed upon both India and Pakistan to reach a negotiated settlement to this protracted problem after taking into account the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
Dr. Khan added that few years ago, encouraged by the silence of international community India declared Kashmir as a union territory and allowed right wing Indian population to acquire land and coveted government positions. The goal is to reduce the Muslim population to minority and conduct plebiscite and to acquire desired results.
The world powers cannot overlook the nefarious actions of India and continue to offer lucrative business deals. It should be noted that these contracts are worth billions of dollars, and their impediment will lead to economic quandary in India. World powers know it well that the resolution of Kashmir will guarantee international peace and security.
Dr. Fai is also the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness forum.
He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435. Or. [email protected]
www.kashmirawareness.org