BRUSSELS/GENEVA, (Unib Rashid) — Speakers at a seminar titled “Pathways to Peace: Self-Determination as a Tool for Conflict Resolution,” held on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), called for the implementation of the UN framework as a means of addressing the long-standing Kashmir dispute.

The seminar was organized by the International Action for Sustainable Peace and Development (IAPSD), with participants emphasizing that the principle of self-determination should be viewed not only as a legal principle but also as a practical instrument for conflict prevention, peacebuilding and reconciliation.

Speakers argued that the continued failure to implement the UN framework for determining the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir has contributed to the persistence of the dispute for decades. They described the unresolved situation as a “smouldering volcano,” warning that the absence of a lasting political settlement continues to contribute to tensions in South Asia.

Kashmir Dispute: UNHRC Seminar Calls for Self-Determination and Lasting Peace. pic.twitter.com/7ZqWQIy9aU

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The panelists attributed the prolonged conflict to what they described as the failure to implement relevant UN resolutions and the continued denial of the Kashmiri people’s political aspirations. They also raised concerns over what they characterized as extensive militarization, restrictions on civic freedoms, changes in land and demographic patterns, and discrimination on religious grounds.

According to the speakers, the unresolved dispute has also contributed to recurring tensions between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighboring countries, making a sustainable political settlement an important element of long-term regional peace and stability.

The speakers stressed that “conflict management” alone cannot substitute for a comprehensive political solution. They called for a free, impartial and internationally supported process aimed at determining the political will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The seminar also emphasized the importance of addressing the historical dimensions of the Kashmir dispute and taking into account the political aspirations of the affected population in efforts to achieve a durable and peaceful resolution.

The event was addressed by Dr. Sajjad Khan, Director of the Kashmir Policy Research Institute (KPRI); Blerim Mustafa, Adviser to the Geneva-based Nations Institute; Advocate Parveez Shah, General Secretary of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC); and Zahid Hussain Hashmi, President of the Peace Forum France.

The speakers reiterated that meaningful engagement with the political dimensions of the Kashmir dispute, alongside respect for human rights and the principle of self-determination, should remain central to international efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region.