“The Kashmir dispute has an international dimension because it has the sanctity of the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Security Council resolutions and has become a big obstacle in the growth, peace and stability of both India and Pakistan. The unresolved conflict over Kashmir threatens the international peace and security of the world. It is far past time for the United Nations to take forceful action in order to restore peace and justice in Kashmir,” said Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum during the 43rd Annual Convention of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). The protraction of seven decades in Kashmir conflict is a telling evidence of its seriousness and gravity. And the fact that the Kashmir conflict, unlike most of other modern conflicts, has continued to exist for long enough does not mean it will end soon; it seems destined to continue as long as the Indian armed forces continue to occupy the region. The potential for genocide is very real and massive killings of innocent civilians have already occurred in the past and it continues till today unabated, Fai added. The 70 year length of the Kashmir conflict is telling evidence of its seriousness and gravity. The fact that this conflict, unlike most other modern conflicts, has continued to exist for long enough, does not mean it will end soon; it seems destined to continue as long as the Indian armed forces continue to occupy the region All stakeholders need to understand that ultimately, the Kashmir issue will only be resolved through negotiations and talks between governments of India, Pakistan and the indigenous Kashmiri leadership. If that is true, then why wait? Any delay will cause more death and destruction in the region. Dr MA Dhar reiterated that denying Kashmiris the right to self-determination is a very dangerous game, particularly when the will for self-determination has only grown stronger with the passage of time. Dr. Dhar added that the denial of democracy and human rights in Kashmir, especially self-determination, has spawned nuclear and missile proliferation. Kashmir has been an open wound in India — Pakistan relations for more than seventy years. The world knows that the bone of contention regarding tensions between India and Pakistan is the on-going conflict over Kashmir. The two countries continue to have re-occurring border clashes and cross border raids that threaten the safety and security not only of India and Pakistan but of Afghanistan as well, Dhar warned. The writer is freelance journalist and can be reached or gnfai2003@yahoo.com Published in Daily Times, April 12th 2018.