June 2025
Dr. Khurram Iqbal, Mr. Suhail Awan, Miss Shaista Sa, Miss Farzan Yaqoob, Lt. Gen. (R) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Mr. Muzammil Ayub Thakur.
On June 4, 2025, South Asia Times (SAT) hosted a high-level roundtable, “The
Kashmir Equation: Territory, Identity, and the Evolving Indo-Pak Crisis,” in Islamabad.
The event brought together an inuential panel of policymakers, analysts, and
Kashmiri advocates to reassess the evolving Kashmir dispute in light of recent regional
developments.
Welcoming remarks by Mr. Salman Javed, Director General of SAT, framed the
discussion as a timely intervention following Pakistan’s robust strategic response to
India’s alleged state-sponsored terrorism. He emphasized that the goal was not only
to dissect the geopolitical aermath but also to spotlight its human consequences,
especially for Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC). The dialogue
emphasized a critical shi from reactive postures to proactive, multidimensional
strategies to address the long-standing crisis.
● Strategic Reset Needed: Pakistan must move beyond a purely reactive,
India-centric policy and develop a proactive strategy guided by its own national
interests.
● Center Kashmiri Voices: The international community and regional powers have
consistently failed to include Kashmiri perspectives in policymaking. True
resolution requires their direct involvement.
● Narrative is Leverage: Winning the global narrative requires institutionalized,
evidence-based lobbying through think tanks, academia, and media, not just
activism.
● China as a Key Stakeholder: China’s economic and strategic interests in the
region via CPEC make it a crucial party in the Kashmir dispute’s future.
Moderated by Mr. Usama Khan, the discussion spanned three major axes: the
strategic power balance, Kashmiri representation, and international diplomacy.
Dr. Khurram Iqbal of the National Defence University argued that Pakistan’s recent counter-narrative has “restored some balance in South Asia.” He warned that India’s ideological pursuits are part of a regional domination project, necessitating a response that strengthens Pakistan’s economic core and foreign policy. Echoing this, public policy expert Mr. Suhail Awan urged Pakistan to break free of an India-centric agenda, stating, “National interest should guide our regional policy, not just rivalry.”
A consistent theme was the urgent need to center Kashmiri perspectives. Miss
Shaista Safi, a youth lobbyist, stated bluntly, “Too oen, we become footnotes in
decisions made about us, not with us.” Miss Farzana Yaqoob, former Minister from
AJK, added that policymakers must beer utilize AJK as a plaorm for global
engagement and unify Kashmiri factions.
“Winning the narrative is just the beginning. The real work begins when we
translate public sentiment into diplomatic impact.”
— Mr. Muzammil Ayub Thakur, World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM)
Lt. Gen. (R) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, former Defence Minister, argued that China is now
a major stakeholder in the Kashmir dispute due to CPEC. He recommended any future policy to consider Beijing’s vested interests in long-term stability and revisited the idea of initiating a composite dialogue with India, provided there are guarantees of transparency.
1. Develop Proactive Foreign Policy: Shift from a reactive, India-centric stance to
a coherent policy guided by Pakistan’s long-term national and economic
interests.
2. Institutionalize Lobbying Eorts: Invest in think tanks, academic research, and
media outreach to build an evidence-based narrative on the Kashmir issue for
global consumption.
3. Amplify Kashmiri Voices: Actively integrate leaders and representatives from
both sides of the LoC, especially AJK, into national security and diplomatic
planning.
4. Engage with China: Formulate a strategy that recognizes China not just as an
ally but as a key stakeholder with vested interests in regional stability.
5. Explore Composite Dialogue: Cautiously pursue dialogue with India, contingent
on clear international guarantees for transparency and reciprocity.