Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has said that following recent Indian aggression, the long-standing Kashmir dispute has reemerged on the global stage, moving “out of the cold storage” and regaining international attention.
Speaking to journalists, President Chaudhry stressed that Kashmir is the core issue between Pakistan and India and a key threat to regional peace, especially given the nuclear capabilities of both nations.
“Any small or major incident between Pakistan and India could escalate into a full-scale war, which would endanger global peace,” he warned.
Barrister Chaudhry welcomed international offers to mediate on the Kashmir dispute, particularly those made by former U.S. President Donald Trump. “Trump’s offer for mediation is a welcome development, and it has brought the Kashmir issue into the global spotlight with renewed intensity,” he said.
The President called for a shift in Pakistan’s diplomatic approach, suggesting that instead of sending government delegations abroad, the country should dispatch delegations of Kashmiri intellectuals, journalists, and politicians. “Kashmiris are the real stakeholders, and only they can effectively communicate their plight and aspirations to the international community,” he added.
Highlighting his own diplomatic efforts, President Chaudhry said he had met with several ambassadors from different countries to raise awareness on the Kashmir issue. “Given the present circumstances, the dream of freedom no longer seems far,” he asserted, calling on the leadership in Azad Kashmir to adopt a united stance on the freedom movement.
Barrister Chaudhry also praised Pakistan’s armed forces for their role in Operation Banyan Al-Marsoos, saying the operation further elevated Pakistan’s global stature and demonstrated national resolve.
He reiterated that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible without a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute. “It is time to seat the Kashmiri people at the negotiating table, because the final decision on Kashmir must reflect their will,” the AJK President concluded.