INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be worried by the statement of United States President Donald Trump that he would work with both Pakistan and India concerning the Kashmir conflict.

India has been insisting that it is a bilateral issue. The Indian narrative is based on the Simla Agreement signed in 1972 following the fall of Dhaka. This was done by putting the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution asking India for a plebiscite on the back burner. Since then, no bilateral talks have been held regarding the Kashmir issue between the two countries.

As things stand today, Pakistan has suspended the Simla Agreement following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India. As the UN was not able to get the resolution implemented due to its weak-ness, now all the hopes lie in the commit-ment of the US president. Will he be able to get the UNSC resolution regarding plebis-cite implemented? Only time will tell.

Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025