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LAHORE, Jul 13 (APP):SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry former President Iftikhar Ali Malik has cautioned that lasting peace in South Asia will remain elusive unless the
long-standing Kashmir dispute and water-related issues between India and Pakistan are resolved through sincere and results-oriented dialogue.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, he stressed that both issues continue to pose significant obstacles to regional peace, stability, and economic progress.
He added that the unresolved Kashmir conflict remains a grave threat to regional security, and that peace cannot be achieved without addressing the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
He strongly condemned ongoing human rights violations and the suppression of Kashmiri population, noting that such actions only deepen the crisis and fuel unrest.
He also drew attention to the growing concerns over water security, citing India’s alleged
violations of Indus Waters Treaty and the construction of dams on western rivers.
These actions, he said, were causing severe water shortages in Pakistan, particularly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods. He urged international mediators and the
United Nations to intervene and ensure strict adherence to existing treaties to prevent
further escalation.
Commenting on regional cooperation, he said the SAARC could not function as an effective platform unless political disputes among member states were resolved.
He lamented that ongoing hostilities had stifled trade, economic integration, and people-to-people contact across the region.
He urged the Indian leadership to demonstrate statesmanship and return to the negotiating table in the larger interest of regional development. “Peace and stability in South Asia are not possible without justice,” he said. “If we genuinely seek a united and economically strong South Asia, we must prioritize the peaceful and just resolution of the Kashmir and water disputes,” he added.