Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asif Yasin Malik (Defense Analyst): Right to self-determination is a fundamental right of any nation and it cannot be denied. First of all, we should emphasize on giving Kashmiris the right to live peacefully. The incumbent government of Pakistan has been highlighting the issue of Kashmir at all international and multilateral forums. As a result, the world has started realizing the plight of Kashmiris who have been denied their basic freedoms. Indian occupation authorities are using all barbaric means to stop Kashmiris’ voice of freedom. The world powers should play their due role in stopping Indian brutalities on innocent Kashmiris.

Brig. (Retd.) Said Nazir (Defense Analyst): As far as the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir are concerned, it is the oldest dispute on the charter of the world body. It is high time that Kashmir and Palestine issues are resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions. The world has adopted double standards on these vital issues. India has been illegally occupying Kashmir for the last many decades and is committing grave human rights violations on innocent Kashmiris. The world is not paying attention towards this illegal occupation and human rights violations because of their commercial interests with India. Since the Modi government came into power, the RSS has been given free hand to target the minorities in India, especially the Muslims, under the Hindutva ideology. The majority of Kashmiris is Muslim and they want the right of plebiscite to decide their future. They are being punished by Indian forces for their demand to right to self-determination. The United States being a strategic partner of India is supporting it to attain hegemony in the region. Pakistan continues to support the Kashmiris’ movement for their right to self-determination.

Dr. Dost Muhammad (Religious Scholar): Minorities in Pakistan have been enjoying equal rights since inception of the country. Our founding forefathers had the vision to create a country where not only Muslims would live freely, but also the followers of other religions without any pressure or harassment. Pakistan has allowed followers of various religions to visit their holy sites situated in Pakistan. The recent visit of Hindu Yatris to Pakistan demonstrates the facilitation and cooperation of our government to allow them to visit the sites which are sacred to them.