PESHAWAR: Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday urged Pakistan’s diplomatic missions worldwide to highlight the Kashmir issue at every international forum, ensuring sustained attention and pressing the global community to work toward its just and early resolution.
The seminar was arranged by the International Relations Students Association (IRSA) at the department of International Relations, University of Peshawar, to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed today (February 5). The seminar was addressed by chairman of the department Prof Dr Sami Raza, a senior faculty member, Dr Hussain Shaheed Soherwordy analysts Dr Yousaf Ali, Dr Rahmanullah, Lehaz Ali and Dr Anees. A large number of faculty members and students attended the event.
Dr Hussain Shaheed urged the students to keep themselves abreast of the UN resolutions and other details about Kashmir and the prolonged dispute between India and Pakistan. At the outset of his talk, he posed a question asking the participants how many of them have actually read the UN resolutions pertaining to the Kashmir dispute. Shockingly, none of the participants could give a positive response.
He was not very optimistic about implementation of the UN resolutions. However, he stressed the participants being students of International Relations and future diplomats to keep highlighting the issue at every forum within the country and abroad. This way they could serve the cause in a fitting manner.
Dr Sami Raza spoke about the territorial importance of the issue. He also explained the territorial distributions of nation states across the globe. Dr Yousaf Ali highlighted the role of media in both the countries and stressed the need for responsible journalism instead of promoting war hysteria.
Dr Rahmanullah discussed the typical Indian mindset to deal with the issue. Lehaz Ali shed light on the role of mujahideen for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to liberate Azad Kashmir from Indian clutches.
A key segment of the session was a thoughtful mini-UN simulation activity, in which students represented the conflicting parties India and Pakistan, as well as the United Nations, fostering critical discussion and analytical engagement. The session proved to be highly thought-provoking, encouraging students to critically examine the Kashmir issue through the lens of international diplomacy and conflict resolution.
