Washington, (TW News) __ Presented herewith are the core points on Kashmir of Mowahid Hussain Shah during his keynote address on Kashmir in the greater Washington area, to mark the Black Day when, on October 27, 1947, India forcibly and illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the first time.

Mowahid identified 3 key points: (1) challenges; (2) what India wants; and (3) pathway forward and what Pakistan needs to do. Among challenges, Mowahid highlighted the obstacles of apathy, insufficient seriousness of commitment, defeatist attitude, and timidity. This is more so among the educated young. Some of this, whether in Pakistan or in the diaspora, the youth have picked up from among elders who do not realize that over-cautious attitudes can be contagious and can paralyze much-needed action. Also, the dysfunctionality of the Pakistan political system has hampered setting up a coherent strategy on Kashmir.

Number 2, what are Indian priorities on Kashmir? Their objective is to localize Kashmir and try to make it globally irrelevant as one of other issues. The mission should be to globalize Kashmir and make it globally relevant. Kashmir is also an endurance issue, and India is counting on fatigue in presenting the Kashmir cause vigorously.

And, number 3, what is the pathway forward? Pakistan officialdom has missed a step in not relentlessly highlighting the basis under which the US State Department banned Modi from entering the United States for 10 years. That basis speaks for itself. Keep hammering on it. Keep highlighting applicable UN resolutions on Kashmir, which remain a part of international law.

Over the years, Kashmir has become too much of an elite Sircari male-dominated issue, instead of keeping a civil society focus at the grassroots. There is a danger of staleness setting in. I propose that in each Pakistani as well as Azad Kashmir University there should be a Kashmir Task Force (KTF) and that can form a training ground to pick the best and the brightest students, who would then have the commitment and equipment to sustain the momentum and present the Kashmir case, whether at home or abroad. Most importantly, it can draw upon the ample reservoir of female talent, which is hitherto under-represented and can constitute a part of the vanguard.

The main battle is fought in the mind. It is paramount, therefore, to inject passion, energy, and enthusiasm. India’s fall from favor in Washington circles gives more scope and space for the Kashmir case to be presented more vigorously. The key thing is to persevere and press on. Remember the pressure of civil society toppled apartheid in South Africa and, just now, the pressure of a resurgent civil society in the United States pressured Trump to forge a peace deal, making Israel agree to it under duress, principally by globalizing it. Kashmir needs fresh medicine. It is never too late to rejuvenate.

Mowahid Hussain Shah was one of the first Pakistani lawyers admitted to the District of Columbia and US Supreme Court Bars. His book, “Will & Skill”, which explores West-Muslim tensions in the aftermath of 9/11 and proposes a way forward, was launched in May 2012.