ISLAMABAD: Three imprisoned leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a Kashmiri political alliance, issued a chilling message: the decades-long Kashmir dispute threatens to become a “nuclear flashpoint” in South Asia.
In separate appeals from their jails in Jammu and Kashmir, these leaders implored the United Nations to intervene and pressure India to engage in dialogue and abide by UN resolutions on the region’s self-determination.
Molvi Bashir Ahmed Irfani, Abdul Ahmad Parra, and Bilal Siddiqi painted a grim picture of the ongoing conflict, emphasizing its destabilizing effect on the entire region. They warned that the presence of nuclear weapons by both India and Pakistan adds an even more alarming dimension to the situation.
According to the leaders, sustainable peace in South Asia hinges on resolving the Kashmir dispute. They urged the UN to play a more active role in facilitating dialogue between India and Pakistan, ensuring both sides respect the right of Kashmiris to self-determination as outlined in UN resolutions.
Their pleas come amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, and heightened military presence in the Kashmir region. The international community has long urged a peaceful resolution to the conflict, recognizing its potential to trigger a wider regional crisis.
