Titled "The world can't ignore Kashmir. We are all in danger," was published on Friday, coinciding with Pakistan government's call to observe Kashmir Hour across the country to show solidarity with Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir, whose rights were stripped by the Indian government earlier this month.
The prime minister denounced India's abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution, which had accorded a special status to Jammu & Kashmir. "The move is illegal under the Constitution of India, but more importantly, it is a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir and the Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan."
Occupied Kashmir is under lockdown since August 5. "Thousands of Kashmiris have been arrested and thrown into prisons across India. A blood bath is feared in Kashmir when the curfew is lifted. Already, Kashmiris coming out in defiance of the curfew are being shot and killed," Prime Minister Imran Khan said.
At the outset, Imran Khan enumerated the steps he had taken after his election as prime minister a year go seeking dialogue for normalization of India-Pakistan relations, but said his efforts for peace were "rebuffed" by New Delhi. He also narrated the events leading to the current situation, which has taken a dangerous turn.
"With the nuclear shadow hovering over South Asia," he said, "We realize that Pakistan and India have to move out of a zero-sum mind-set to begin dialogue on Kashmir, various strategic matters and trade". "On Kashmir, the dialogue must include all stakeholders, especially the Kashmiris. We have already prepared multiple options that can be worked on while honouring the right to self-determination the Kashmiris were promised by the Security Council resolutions and India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru," the prime minister wrote.
"Through dialogue and negotiations, the stakeholders can arrive at a viable solution to end the decades of suffering of the Kashmiri people and move toward a stable and just peace in the region. But dialogue can start only when India reverses its illegal annexation of Kashmir, ends the curfew and lockdown, and withdraws its troops to the barracks."
PM Khan also made a reference to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's latest statement on India's no-first-use nuclear policy and said - "India's defence minister has issued a not-so-veiled nuclear threat to Pakistan by saying that the future of India's "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons will "depend on circumstances."
"It is imperative that the international community think beyond trade and business advantages. World War II happened because of appeasement at Munich. A similar threat looms over the world again, but this time under the nuclear shadow," the Pakistani leader said. Asserting that 'lasting and just peace in South Asia' has been his priority ever since he came to power, he said the response to his efforts from India was negative.