APROPOS ‘Kashmir: why talk to India?’ (Aug 21). The writer has very delicately highlighted an aspect of the Kashmir movement by using the term “correlation of forces.” In fact it indicates a specific interaction of international players and their special leniency to give space to India to act as it pleases in the region.

This patronage especially after 9/11 has largely spoiled the legitimate movement of the Kashmiri people. Even now when the United Nations has already passed many resolutions for talks on Kashmir, India is going for its own version of talks, showing its hawkish attitude.

The case for Kashmir has a precedent in recent history. The people of East Timor voted for independence under a UN sponsored call for self-determination. Similarly the people of South Sudan through a referendum chose their own destiny. When the international community can extend its support in the case of East Timor and South Sudan, why not Kashmir? The current uprising is the biggest after 1990.

The Kashmiri people’s aspirations are not terrorism. Stifling their desire for freedom is a violation of basic rights of the people under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.

There is a need for recognising the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir as an oppressed nation. As such diplomatic efforts by Pakistan must be supported by the rest of the world to give a brutally subjugated people their rights.

Muhammad Usman Malik

Rome, Italy

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016