ISSI hosts KIIR interns for Kashmir session

Islamabad: The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a group of Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) interns, students hailing from Islamabad’s leading universities.

The group was led by KIIR Chairman Altaf Hussain Wani. The interaction was part of ISSI’s initiative of engaging the youth, particularly on issues of national importance and Pakistan’s foreign policy.

In his introductory remarks, Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director ISC, stressed the importance of precise academic discourse on the Kashmir issue, emphasising alignment with Pakistan’s official stance based on UNSC resolutions enshrining the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the importance of effective narrative-building in shaping global perceptions and stressed the imperatives of clarity, accuracy and consistency while presenting Pakistan’s case. He highlighted the distinct legal, human rights, and peace and security dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and elaborated on India’s detrimental actions on each of those counts. He also noted that the ‘Hindutva’ ideology posed a formidable structural constraint in the way of any forward movement both on the Kashmir dispute and on Pakistan-India relations.