India is not willing to implement the UN resolutions on Kashmir, which give the Kashmiris their right to self-determination. It is also not ready to accept the mediation offer from any country to resolve the seven-decade dispute.

It also did not agree to any of the out-of-box solutions offered by various Pakistan governments to settle this dispute.  

If India sticks to its stubbornness, what fate can the Kashmiris wait for? How long will they have to face the barbarity at the hands of an extremist India?  What role can, and should, the United Nations play to get the subjugated Kashmiris their due rights? Are bilateral talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours possible?

These questions have arisen following UN Secretary General’s call on Sunday for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute through the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, which India rejected instantly. He also made an offer for mediation to settle the dispute, which also met the same fate.

Mr Antonio Guterres, visiting Pakistan these days, had also called upon India to ensure that the people of the occupied valley enjoyed the same fundamental rights and freedom of movement as being enjoyed by the people of Azad Kashmir. This was in fact like a certification to Pakistan that the situation in its part of Kashmir was quite satisfactory.

The UN chief was not the first person to make the mediation offer.

A few months ago, US President Trump had also offered to mediate, but India rejected it.  

“There is no role or scope for third party mediation", an influential Indian newspaper reported on Monday quoting the spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs.

As if the mere rejection of the UN secretary general’s offer was not enough, the spokesperson said:

"The issue of [Jammu and Kashmir] that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan."

"Further issues, if any, would be discussed bilaterally. There is no role or scope for third party mediation."

According to the paper, Kumar said that India hopes Gutteres will "emphasise on the imperative for Pakistan to take a credible, sustained and irreversible action to put an end to cross-border terrorism against India".

India also had taken exception to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unequivocal support a few days ago for the people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) and told Turkey to "not interfere in India's internal affairs."

There is now no doubt left that India will not give the Kashmiris their rights at any cost and, instead, will use all conceivable methods to silence them.

There is also no possibility of talks between Pakistan and India in the prevailing situation.

This means the situation will remain unchanged in the foreseeable future.

Therefore, the world body will have to devise some mechanism to deal with a country that continues to challenge its authority. And if the UN resolutions remain unimplemented, it will be a source of constant embarrassment for it.

Such a situation will shake the weak countries’ trust in the world body.

Rising above their commercial interests important countries should consider the possibility of imposing sanctions on Delhi as a tool to mount pressure on India. Kashmiris should be taken as human beings and all efforts should be made to get them their rights.

Otherwise, there is little justification for the United Nations to stay on and serve as a pawn of the major powers.