Ambassador Sheikh Advocates Diplomacy for Kashmir Resolution at US Seminar
WASHINGTON:
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, stressed that diplomacy is the most effective approach to resolving global issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute. He made these remarks during a seminar at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.
According to Ambassador Sheikh, a long-term solution to the Kashmir conflict and lasting peace can best be achieved through diplomatic efforts. He emphasized, “We must create an environment where India and Pakistan can engage in meaningful and productive dialogue. This is the only viable path forward.”
The ambassador also drew parallels between the Kashmir and Palestine conflicts, urging the international community to renew its focus and play a more active role in resolving these longstanding disputes. He stated, “The situation in both Kashmir and Palestine offers us an opportunity to treat them as interconnected issues. Addressing them together will strengthen the case for both.”
Sheikh criticized the actions of the Indian government, particularly since August 5, 2019, calling them “legally untenable.” He underscored the importance of UN Resolution 122, adopted on January 24, 1957, which reaffirmed the international nature of the Kashmir issue. The resolution clearly stated that any unilateral actions by the involved parties would not replace a UN-supervised plebiscite as the path to resolution.
At the seminar, speakers reaffirmed their unwavering support for the people of Indian-Occupied Kashmir and called on the international community to work towards resolving the decades-old conflict. They highlighted the legal, political, and security dimensions of the dispute, drawing attention to its far-reaching consequences.
The seminar also focused on India’s continuous refusal to honor its commitments and the unfulfilled promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by the global community. Participants also addressed the destabilizing effects of India’s 2019 unilateral actions in the region.
The event, held in two sessions, attracted a wide audience, including civil society members, Pakistani-Americans (especially from Azad Jammu and Kashmir), media representatives, and students from various universities in Washington, D.C. Special messages from Pakistan’s President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister were read aloud, followed by a documentary highlighting the struggles of the people of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
