INDIAN Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s assertion about Kashmir being an integral part of India is tantamount to rejecting not only the various UNSC resolutions, but also the pledges and commitment of their first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Over the years, nearly all Indian leaders from Indira Gandhi to Atal Behari Vajpayee to Manmohan Singh have reiterated that Kashmir is an outstanding issue between the two countries.

If Kashmir is an integral part of India, then why is the importance of its resolution mentioned in the Simla Accord of 1972, Lahore Declaration of 1999, Islamabad Declaration of 2004 and Delhi Declaration of 2005?

In his recent book, Neither a Hawk nor a Dove, former Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has repeatedly emphasised the need for friendly and cordial relations between Pakistan and India.

According to Mr Kasuri, former President Pervez Musharraf was exploring the idea of some out-of-the-box solution for the valley related to self-autonomy, joint ownership mechanism, de-militarisation, etc.

India, being a much larger country which considers itself a rising global power, should show courage in this regard and re-start the composite dialogue process for the resolution of all outstanding issues between our two nations.

Umar M. Makhdumi
Karachi

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THE referendum in Britain on Brexit can be taken as an example for solving the Kashmir dispute. Once again the Kashmir situation has aggravated following the death of freedom fighter Burhan Wani. Kashmiris have been struggling for more than half of a century.

The people of Kashmir should be given the right to decide their fate. A referendum must be conducted under the UN auspices in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir to determine its future.

This is the only viable way to give the Kashmiris deliverance from the atrocities of the Indian army.

Ayesha Erum
Faisalabad

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016