Pakistan has asked India to resume bilateral talks on Kashmir and other issues, warning that failure to do so will have serious consequences for everyone.
“There should be some resonance of reciprocity from New Delhi as well,” Pakistan’s US envoy, a former president of Azad Kashmir, said at a meeting in Washington. “Tango requires two. It can’t possibly be a monologue. There must be a discourse.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced his openness to undertake discussions with India earlier this week at a conference in Islamabad.
On August 3, the United States also encouraged efforts to restart India-Pakistan negotiations. When asked about Mr Sharif’s offer, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “As we have long stated, we support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of concern.” India, on the other hand, has rejected Pakistan’s offer, claiming that Islamabad must first create a ‘climate’ for peace before the negotiations can resume.
Ambassador Khan, on the other hand, reaffirmed the negotiations offer during a gathering called to commemorate the “day of usurpation” on August 5.
The gathering was attended by a large number of Pakistani and Kashmiri Americans, members of civil society, and human rights campaigners. President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Sharif both sent messages reiterating their unwavering support for the Kashmir cause.
Videos illustrating the Kashmiri people’s fight and Indian crimes were also shown. Pakistan has issued a series of documents authored by human rights organizations and media activists that depict the reality in Indian-occupied territories.
Afzal Khan, the UK’s Shadow Minister for Legal Aid, said Labour MPs had encouraged the government not to abdicate its historical responsibilities and to play a role in supporting long-term peace and development in the region. According to human rights campaigner Shamim Shawal, 9,000 girls have gone missing since 2019 and 181 children have gone missing since 2022.
‘Innovate and adapt.’
Muzammil Ayub Thakur, president of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, exhorted Kashmiris to “learn to adapt and innovate” to ensure the success of their freedom struggle.
Wasiullah Khan, Chancellor of East West University in Chicago, urged Kashmiris to continue their peaceful campaign for independence.
Senator Abdul Qayyum stated that peace-loving nations must stand in solidarity with all oppressed peoples around the world, especially Kashmiris.
Mohsin Ansari, president of the Islamic Circle of North America, pledged his organization’s continuing support to the people of Kashmir.
According to George Washington University Professor Imtiaz Khan, the people of India should learn to look beyond their government’s rhetoric and understand how it is repressing the Kashmiri people.
