International
oi-Ruchika Pareek
In
a
move
laced
with
a
subtle
nuclear
warning,
Pakistan’s
ambassador
to
the
United
States,
Rizwan
Saeed
Sheikh,
appealed
to
U.S.
President
Donald
Trump
to
step
in
and
broker
a
final
resolution
to
the
Kashmir
dispute.
Speaking
to
Newsweek,
Sheikh
described
Kashmir
as
the
“flashiest
flashpoint” in
the
world
and
warned
of
a
looming
nuclear
crisis
if
the
issue
remains
unresolved.
Highlighting
Trump’s
global
peace
efforts,
Sheikh
said,
“If
we
have
a
president
who
stands
for
peace
as
a
core
aim
of
his
administration
–
someone
who
finishes
wars
and
resolves
disputes
–
then
there’s
no
more
pressing
nuclear
flashpoint
than
Kashmir.” His
comments
suggested
that
Trump’s
intervention
could
solidify
a
legacy
as
a
global
peacemaker,
while
failure
to
act
might
invite
dangerous
consequences.
India,
on
the
other
hand,
has
consistently
held
that
all
matters
concerning
Jammu
and
Kashmir
are
bilateral
and
must
be
resolved
solely
between
New
Delhi
and
Islamabad.
However,
Pakistan
continues
to
push
for
international
involvement,
frequently
inviting
third
parties
to
mediate.
This
latest
diplomatic
push
follows
the
Pahalgam
terror
attack
in
which
26
civilians,
mainly
tourists,
were
killed.
The
attackers
were
reportedly
trained
in
and
launched
from
Pakistan.
In
the
aftermath,
rather
than
condemning
the
violence,
Pakistan
reached
out
to
Iran
and
the
United
States
to
step
in
on
the
Kashmir
issue.
At
the
same
time,
veiled
nuclear
threats
were
issued,
and
Pakistan
hinted
at
re-evaluating
bilateral
agreements,
including
a
key
water-sharing
treaty
with
India.
During
the
Newsweek
interview,
Sheikh
reinforced
the
nuclear
undertone,
remarking,
“We’re
not
just
talking
about
two
countries
in
a
tense
neighborhood
–
we’re
talking
about
nuclear-capable
states.
That’s
the
level
of
seriousness.”
His
tone
echoed
recent
comments
from
Pakistan
minister
Hanif
Abbasi,
who
claimed
that
Pakistan
has
170
nuclear
warheads
aimed
at
India.
Sheikh
insisted
that
the
Kashmir
issue
is
the
fundamental
source
of
discord
between
the
two
nations.
India
maintains
that
there
is
no
room
for
mediation
on
Kashmir,
except
for
matters
concerning
the
territory
illegally
occupied
by
Pakistan
–
known
as
Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir
(PoK)
–
and
Pakistan’s
ongoing
support
for
cross-border
terrorism,
which
continues
to
threaten
regional
peace
in
Jammu
and
Kashmir
and
the
broader
South
Asian
region.
Sheikh
concluded
his
remarks
with
a
renewed
call
for
external
involvement:
“Until
a
final
settlement
is
reached,
and
the
resolutions
are
followed
to
their
logical
end,
these
tensions
will
persist.
That’s
why
we
demand
the
United
States
and
others
step
in
and
activate
de-confliction
mechanisms.”
He
further
claimed
that
Pakistan
does
not
seek
conflict
with
India,
acknowledging
India’s
larger
size
and
military
might.
“We
want
peace
–
it
serves
our
economy,
our
national
interests,
and
every
objective
we
currently
have,”
Sheikh
said.
“But
peace
must
come
with
dignity.
If
conflict
is
forced
upon
us,
we
would
rather
die
with
dignity
than
live
with
indignity.”
Pakistan’s
Desperate
Appeal
to
OIC
Separately,
Pakistan
has
been
lobbying
the
Organisation
of
Islamic
Cooperation
(OIC)
in
a
bid
to
internationalize
the
Kashmir
issue.
Ambassador
Asim
Iftikhar,
Pakistan’s
envoy
to
the
United
Nations,
briefed
OIC
diplomats
in
New
York,
accusing
India
of
provocative
actions
–
a
claim
lacking
factual
basis.
According
to
a
Pakistani
press
release,
the
OIC
envoys
expressed
solidarity
with
Pakistan
and
emphasized
the
need
for
diplomatic
de-escalation.
They
reiterated
their
support
for
resolving
the
Kashmir
issue
in
accordance
with
United
Nations
and
OIC
resolutions.
