Voice For Kashmir: edit in The Nation, September 23, 2016

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif won plaudits at home for his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday. His focus on the Kashmir issue and transgressions carried out by India in the aftermath of Burhan Wani’s murder in the most public of forums won over both supporters and opposition alike.Nawaz Sharif will come home to a happy public, pleased that he made Kashmir his focus in the UNGA address.But domestic appeasement should not be the focus for the government; there are greater concerns beyond the border that need to be addressed.
How has this visit and the address impacted the struggle for self-determination of the Kashmiris? Will the international world take notice, now that Pakistan has publicly called out India once more? Will India back down, remove the curfew, and establish some sort of dialogue with Kashmiri leaders and Pakistan? The answer to all three questions, sadly, is no.
But that does not mean that this visit to the General Assembly is inconsequential.
What then will work? How can Pakistan make the world work towards finding a Kashmir solution? The next step in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to grant a voice to the Kashmiris would be to approach countries individually.China is already on Pakistan’s side.Greater efforts should be made to make Muslim countries publicly denounce Indian policy in the restive region.Turkey has already called for an impartial probe.Others should be made to follow.As far as South Asia is concerned, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Iran are all either on India’s side or choose neutrality (in the case of the last one).The rest of the world has chosen to look the other way, which could be countered by Pakistan asking for individual support one by one.The US and other global powers have so far chosen not to get involved.
But emphasising on the rapidly deteriorating ties between Pakistan and India should be used as a means to get the international community to pressurise India to the negotiating table.The fact that Pakistan submitted a dossier of proof against Indian atrocities in Indian-Held-Kashmir, while India merely labelled Pakistan a terrorist state without even choosing to qualify this assertion with facts should be used as evidence of Pakistan’s seriousness to resolve all issues.This constant back and forth of accusations has only made matters worse.International and domestic experts are both speculating whether the two countries are on the brink of war.The world knows now where Pakistan stands.
The only thing we need to do is make the global community realise that it is in the best interest of everyone to ensure that India joins us there.http://nation.com.pk/editorials/23-Sep-2016/voice-for-kashmir