ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan urged India on Wednesday to take the first step toward regional peace by resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, which both countries claim in full but rule it in part. The disputed Himalayan region has become the focus of renewed tensions between the nuclear-armed powers after Aug. 5, 2019, when New Delhi revoked the semi-autonomy of Kashmiri territory under its administration and imposed a military lockdown and media blackout in the region.
Khan was speaking during a two-day international conference, Islamabad Security Dialogue, held in the Pakistani capital. He said his government had offered dialogue to India, but the effort was upended by New Delhi’s “illegal actions” in 2019.
“India must take the first step and create an enabling environment for moving forward,” Khan said, as quoted in a statement issued by his office.
“India must commit to giving Kashmiris their right to self-determination as per the UNSC Resolutions, he said. “Kashmir was the core issue between Pakistan and India and if a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue is found by giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination it would be beneficial for both countries.”
The main theme of Islamabad Security Dialogue is a comprehensive security framework to help Pakistan capitalize on its geostrategic location.
“National security today includes many aspects that have been ignored in previous decades, including climate security, food security and economic prosperity,” Khan said, adding that economic prosperity cannot be sustained without peace in the neighborhood and that Pakistan wishes for a political settlement in Afghanistan.
“Peace in Afghanistan is the key to unlocking the connectivity potential of the region,” he said.
During the conference’s inaugural session, Khan also launched the National Security Division’s advisory portal to connect over 100 think-tanks and university departments in Pakistan with policy makers.
