NEW YORK: The Institute for Conflict Analysis, George Mason University recently organized a program, The Kashmir Dispute: Role of the International Communality. Panelists included Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center; Dr Vijay Sazawal, International Coordinator, Indo-American Kashmir Forum; Mohammad Aslam Khan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Pakistan; Amb. John McDonald, President, Institute of Multi-track Diplomacy; and Frederic Grare, South Asia Scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The seminar was moderated by Professor Solon Simmons of the Institute.

Dr Fai said that the Kashmir question is one of the oldest unresolved international problems in the world. The experience of nearly six decades has shown that it will not go away and that an effort is urgently required to resolve it on a durable basis.

It is imperative, whatever be the rights and wrongs in the equation as far as arguments go, real populations with a pronounced sense of identity of their own, with their suffering and their aspirations rather than just legal title and merit are involved. He emphasized that if India and Pakistan will try to settle the issue of Kashmir without the participation of the genuine leadership of the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, they will be performing Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

Dr Fai reminded that when the Kashmir dispute erupted in 1947-1948, the United States championed the stand that the future status of Kashmir must be ascertained in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the territory. The US was a principal sponsor of the resolution, which was adopted by the Security Council on 21 April 1948, and which was based on that unchallenged principle.

Dr Fai said that it was most gratifying for us that on February 22, 2006, President Bush made it a point to clarify that the United States supports a solution of the Kashmir dispute acceptable not only to India and Pakistan but also to citizens of Kashmir. Mohammad Aslam Khan said that Kashmir issue demands an urgent resolution.

He cited the Human Rights Watch reports while describing the human rights violations taking place in Indian occupied Kashmir by the 700,000 Indian military forces. He said that Pakistan would like the Kashmiri leadership to be the part of the negotiations to settle the Kashmir dispute. On his part, Dr Sazawal said that one should shift from the 60-year old paradigm and move away from land-centric solutions to people-centric solution.

He pointed out that it is the people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the line of control that should decide what is best for them. Amb. McDonald said that both India and Pakistan should have the joint position on Kashmir. He referred to his initiative whereby business community leaders could play an important role in resolving the issue of Kashmir.

Grare said that Kashmir issue is one of the oldest issues at the United Nations and the international community has played an important role in exploring a solution of Kashmir problem. He said that Dixon plan was unique because it gave the people of Kashmir a choice to have plebiscite on regional basis.