Permanent Solution to Kashmir Issue Needed: Ambassador Rizwan Saeed

 

Permanent Solution to Kashmir Issue Needed: Ambassador Rizwan Saeed

Highlighting that the Kashmir issue has become the "epicenter of nuclear tension," Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, stated, “A temporary solution is not enough; a permanent resolution to the Kashmir issue is necessary.”

He further mentioned that the Kashmir conflict is the main reason behind the recent deterioration in Pakistan-India relations, adding, “Without a lasting solution to this decades-old problem, peace between these two nuclear-armed neighbors is not possible.”

Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh made these remarks in an interview broadcast on Fox News Digital on Saturday.

Calling for international intervention to resolve the issue, Ambassador Sheikh said, “President [Donald] Trump can enhance his legacy by participating in efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute through an agreement.”

On April 22, a horrific attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 people, most of whom were tourists. India alleged Pakistani involvement in the attack, though New Delhi has yet to provide any evidence supporting the claim. Pakistan has denied the allegation and has called for an impartial international investigation into the Pahalgam attack.

Since the attack, both countries have been taking retaliatory measures, raising fears that the hostile neighbors could be drawn into military conflict once again. Islamabad fears that India might launch an attack at any time and is thus preparing various military measures. Meanwhile, countries such as the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU), Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar have urged both sides to show restraint.

In the Fox News interview, Rizwan Saeed said that when the Kashmir situation had previously reached such a critical stage, the international community had paid attention to it. “But they turned away before the problem was fully resolved.” Therefore, he called on global powers to ensure a lasting resolution to the Kashmir issue.

The Pakistani ambassador said, “Any misstep or miscalculation could lead to a nuclear conflict. In such a densely populated region, that is certainly undesirable.” Emphasizing that Pakistan does not want instability in the region, he added, “We want a peaceful neighborhood.”

In another interview with Newsweek on Thursday, Rizwan Saeed had also urged Trump to help de-escalate tensions. He said at the time that the Trump administration has “stood for peace in the world,” which is significant. He added that at this moment, there is “no issue more critical and tense than Kashmir.”

In that interview, the Pakistani ambassador also recalled Trump’s inauguration speech in January, in which he said, “I want to be remembered with pride as a messenger of peace and a symbol of unity.”

Trump has already brokered a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, although it later collapsed. He is also making serious efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. On another front, he is pursuing a renewed nuclear deal with Iran.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, announced that a Security Council meeting would be convened at an appropriate time to address the evolving situation. He made this statement during a press conference in New York on Friday.