The frightening and dreadful terrorist attack on foreign tourists in Pahalgam (Kashmir) on Tuesday April 22, 2025, has drawn universal condemnation by world leaders and more importantly by the people of Kashmir itself. They have made it abundantly clear that terrorism must be condemned in all its shades and manifestations.

 It is widely reported that the innocent Kashmiri civilians and Kashmiri students in Indian universities are being harassed not only by police but also by the people belonging to right-wing RSS organization. Until today, more than 2,000 Kashmiris have been detained, at least 35 Kashmiri homes have been demolished and destroyed in Bandipora, Kupwara, Shopian, and Pulwama districts of Kashmir.

 It is reported that at least 110 Kashmiri students of Universal Group of Institutions were asked by the college authorities to go back to Kashmir. They were escorted in two buses on their way to Jammu. Even the pro-India former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has called on authorities “innocent people are not made to feel the brunt.”

 Meanwhile, Mr. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General said on April 29, 2025, that "The Secretary-General expressed his deep concern at rising tensions between India and Pakistan and underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences." "He (SG) offered his Good Offices to support de-escalation efforts.” The spokesperson added that "The region and the world cannot afford a confrontation between India and Pakistan, which would be catastrophic for those two countries and for the world as a whole."

 Earlier, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on April 25, 2025, that  “We again urge both the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further.”

 We greatly appreciate the urgent attention given to the situation by the world leaders including the Secretary General of the United Nations. However, we remain concerned that SG has chosen to adopt the view that this is simply a bilateral issue. Unfortunately, it is an extremely dangerous situation in Kashmir. As long as India continues to blame Pakistan for problems in Kashmir, India and Pakistan remain on the verge of war with each other, and this is a threat to international peace and security. When two nuclear countries are facing each other down, as they have for over 78 years, with already three wars under their belts, that’s not a bilateral issue whatsoever. That has the makings of a world war. Nothing else demands international attention like such a threat, and it greatly behooves the United States, and other allies to sit up and take heed.

 Therefore, we demand that the SG must intervene and urge Government of India to permit an independent, impartial and international agency, more preferably the United Nations, to investigate these terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, in identifying, apprehending and punishing the culprits.

 

For more information please contact: Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai is also the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum. He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435 or. gnfai2003@yahoo.comwww.kashmirawarweness.org