Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party has appealed the international community to urgently address the escalating tensions in the region, which has brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.
In a statement issued on Friday, the DFP Spokesman Advocate Arshad Iqbal voiced serious concerns over the war hysteria being created following the Phalgam incident saying that instead of issuing off the cuff statements and escalating tension the political and military leadership on both sides of the divide should come together to address the root causes that continues to bedevil relationship between the two countries.
Taking serious note of the India's unilateral actions including suspension of Indus water treaty, banning entry to Pakistanis, the spokesman said, "The current standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours could escalate into a wider regional conflict if not addressed immediately".
Describing the unresolved Kashmir as the mother of all disputes, he said that the tensions between India and Pakistan mainly originate from Kashmir conflict that has been left unaddressed despite the passage of over seventy seven years. "Whether it's the conflict over Siachen or water-sharing tensions, many of these issues stem from Kashmir", he maintained.
The spokesman made it clear that "Kashmir remains the core issue-until this decades-old conflict is addressed bloodshed, and violence will continue to plague the region".
"The tragic incidents like the Pahalgam attack and the brutal massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpora, Kashmir, will continue to recur unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved peacefully in line with UN Security Council resolutions", he said.
The spokesman added that India and Pakistan may have several bilateral disagreements, but the Kashmir dispute has held both nations hostage for decades.
"The Indian leadership must recognize that attempts to tighten its control over Kashmir through heavy militarization and constitutional changes cannot obscure the ground reality", he said, emphasizing that Kashmir is a political issue that demands resolution based on its historical context.
Reiterating his party's principled stance on the issue, Iqbal said, "Acknowledging the ground realities and respecting the Kashmiri people's legitimate political struggle-including their rightful demand for self-determination-is the only viable path to lasting peace in a region plagued by decades of repression and violence".
"It is also high time for influential global powers to step up and play a constructive role in this regard", the spokesman said.
He reiterated that the international community must engage meaningfully to help India and Pakistan-both nuclear-armed nations-resolve this long-standing dispute through peaceful means.
"If left unaddressed, the Kashmir issue could trigger a dangerous escalation, potentially leading to a nuclear confrontation", the spokesman warned.
'"It is imperative for the global community to act responsibly, deescalate tensions, and support sincere efforts toward a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict", the spokesman said.