Kashmir, the Most Agonizing Situation in the World: Yusuf Buch
By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

New York:  Ambassador Yusuf Buch is resting comfortably at his home. A delegation comprising Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai and Dr A. R. Meer enquired about his health at his residence in New York City. Ambassador Yusuf Buch said that he was saddened to learn that there was no mention of Kashmir in the joint statement between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sharif that was issued in Ufa, Russia.

 His message to Kashmiri youth was to hold on to the cause, despite the oppression of the occupying forces. The repression cannot be the reason for apathy towards Kashmir cause. “Participation in the freedom struggle should become the second nature of the Kashmiri youth”, Buch added.

 "What pains me is the deceitfulness and betrayal of our own past leadership! I have never met more deceitful person in my life than Sheikh Abdullah," he said.

Mr Buch narrated to us the final wish of a dying Kashmiri martyr who said  on July 13, 1931, (Aaseey niboou panin zimadari. Woin chou thuhund faraz aath madad karun) “We tried our best to do what we could, now it is on your shoulder to move the movement forward.”

 He said that Kashmir is one of the most agonizing and painful situations anywhere in the world.

 Elaborating his experiences in world affairs, Ambassador Buch said, “The alternative to chaos in international relations – and in the global mind itself – is a world order governed by rules and principles and the test of the strength, indeed the reality, of these rules and principles is that they should play a commanding role in  the settlement of international disputes. All the major principles essential for international sanity are attracted by the Kashmir dispute: the two major ones are the sanctity of international agreements and the self-determination of peoples.”

(Dr Fai can be reached at:   gnfai2003@yahoo.com)