✍ By Waqas ur Rehman
The Kashmir dispute has remained one of South Asia’s most enduring and emotionally charged issues since 1947. For Pakistan, it is more than a foreign policy challenge; it is a matter of historical responsibility, moral principle, and deep human connection. While territorial disputes across the world can sometimes be resolved through transactional bargaining, Kashmir is different. Its resolution is tied to the aspirations of millions of the Kashmiri people living under one of the most militarized occupations in modern history.
In recent years, especially after India’s unilateral abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019, the political landscape has shifted sharply. New Delhi’s move stripped Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) of its special constitutional status, opening the way for demographic changes and deepening the alienation of the local population. This has placed Pakistan in a challenging position, forcing policymakers to rethink the country’s strategy in a context where the conventional diplomatic routes appear congested, and the humanitarian situation grows more urgent.
The Moral Imperative
Before delving into policy options, it is essential to underline why Pakistan cannot and should not treat J&K merely as a distant geopolitical concern. The Kashmiris have, for decades, endured cycles of curfews, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on free expression. Beyond politics, this is about human dignity. Pakistan’s stance is rooted in the principle that the will of the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, must determine the territory’s future. If Pakistan were to distance itself from the cause, it would abandon a population that has looked toward it for moral and diplomatic support. That moral commitment, however, needs to be matched with a sophisticated, adaptive policy that can be effective in a dramatically changed environment.
Diplomatic Options in a Polarized World
Diplomacy has always been Pakistan’s frontline tool on the Kashmir issue, but the challenge lies in making it relevant when global attention is fleeting and often shaped by strategic economic interests. Many countries that once supported a neutral, rules-based approach to disputes now view India primarily through the lens of trade and investment. This reality cannot be ignored. Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy should therefore be twofold: (i) rebuilding alliances in the Muslim world (ii) targeted engagement with the West. Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) continue to voice concern over J&K, but statements alone achieve little. Pakistan must work to elevate the issue beyond annual declarations. This could include initiating humanitarian monitoring missions, cultural diplomacy focused on the Kashmiri heritage and coordinated economic or diplomatic signals that convey collective seriousness. On the other hand, while some Western capitals have avoided open criticism of India, there are human rights organizations and academic institutions willing to speak out. Pakistan can support and amplify these voices without appearing confrontational, by providing credible evidence, firsthand testimonies, and research reports that focus on human rights rather than purely territorial claims. Framing J&K as a matter of rights and justice, rather than as a bilateral quarrel, resonates more strongly in the Western public sphere.
Leveraging International Law
India’s August 2019 actions directly challenge international law principles, including those related to self-determination and the prohibition of altering disputed territories’ demographics. While the UNSC remains gridlocked, Pakistan can explore other forums such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Even if jurisdictional hurdles exist, such moves can internationalize the issue, generate legal discourse, and keep J&K in the spotlight. In parallel, Pakistan should encourage independent UN special rapporteurs on human rights to conduct investigations and issue public reports.
Economic and Cultural Soft Power
One of Pakistan’s untapped strengths lies in its soft power potential. The Kashmir cause often gets framed narrowly in military or diplomatic terms, but culture, media, and education can be equally powerful. The soft power strategies include: (i) Media Storytelling: Rather than relying on sporadic news coverage, Pakistan can invest in documentaries, independent film projects, and digital storytelling that highlight the Kashmiri voices. The aim should not be propaganda but authentic narratives that evoke empathy and understanding. (ii) Academic and Cultural Exchanges: Hosting the Kashmiri scholars, artists, and activists in Pakistan and facilitating their engagement abroad can humanize the issue. Exhibitions, poetry readings, and joint research projects can create a lasting emotional connection in audiences unfamiliar with the region. (iii) Diaspora Engagement: Millions of the Pakistanis and the Kashmiris living abroad represent an enormous advocacy network. Well-organized diaspora campaigns can influence host-country politics far more effectively than embassies.
Maintaining Deterrence While Avoiding Escalation
The military dimension of the dispute cannot be ignored, particularly given the Line of Control’s volatility. Pakistan’s policy must maintain a credible deterrent to safeguard its territorial integrity and protect civilian populations along the LoC. However, seeking a military solution risks alienating international partners and feeding India’s narrative of cross-border militancy. Thus, restraint is not weakness. It is a strategic choice that allows Pakistan to focus on the humanitarian and legal aspects, keeping the moral high ground. The aim is to show the world that Pakistan is committed to a peaceful resolution while making clear that it will defend itself, if necessary.
Building a Multi-Track Approach
No single channel can resolve the issue of J&K. Pakistan’s strategy should integrate official diplomacy (Track I), informal dialogues among influential figures (Track II) and grassroots-level engagement (Track III). For instance, non-governmental dialogue forums involving retired officials, academics, artists and journalists from both sides of the border can explore practical steps for easing tensions such as prisoners’ exchanges, easing travel restrictions for divided families and cooperation on disaster management. While such measures may seem small, they build trust that can later be expanded into political agreements.
Countering Disinformation
India’s post-2019 strategy has involved not only legal and political changes but also an aggressive media campaign portraying these moves as ‘development’ for J&K. Pakistan must counter this with facts and expose contradictions through credible international voices. Commissioning independent research on the ground via journalists, human rights observers and think tanks can puncture the curated narrative and bring realities to light. In this digital era, this also means investing in social media literacy campaigns for the young Pakistanis and Kashmiris, ensuring they can respond effectively to misinformation without falling into emotional or unverified claims that weaken credibility.
Reframing Narrative for the Long Term
Perhaps the most important shift Pakistan can make is narrative-based i.e. to present J&K not as a ‘conflict zone’ but as a place of culture, resilience, and potential. The focus should move from despair to hope, from endless accounts of tragedy to stories of survival and aspiration. This does not mean downplaying human rights abuses; rather it means balancing them with the vision of what a peaceful, self-determined Kashmir could look like. Such imagery is far more mobilizing for international audiences than endless cycles of violence.
Conclusion: Choosing Patience with Purpose
Pakistan’s policy options for J&K vis-à-vis India exist in a difficult reality where international politics favours economic convenience over moral principle, and where India’s domestic politics reward hardline positions. Yet history shows that even the most entrenched disputes can evolve when moral pressure, strategic patience, and creative diplomacy combine. For Pakistan, the path forward lies in holding fast to its moral commitments while diversifying its tools: legal action, cultural diplomacy, diaspora mobilization and sustained humanitarian advocacy. This is not a short struggle; it is a generational one. The Kashmiris deserve not only our solidarity in words but a policy that reflects wisdom, resilience, and humanity. If pursued with clarity of purpose and unity at home, Pakistan can ensure that the Kashmir cause remains alive in global consciousness and that, one day, the promise of self-determination becomes more than just a line in the UN resolutions.
✍ Waqas ur Rehman is a Lecturer at the Department of History & Politics, The University of Haripur, Pakistan
