ISLAMABAD, July 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Although the international community mandated decades ago that Kashmiris have the right to self determination, world powers are against territorial changes in the region, a Pakistani analyst said Sunday, June 30.

Pakistani Lieutenant General (Retd.) and former defense secretary Talat Masood on Sunday, June 30, said world powers were against territorial changes in the region in reference to the Kashmir issue, Iranian news agency, IRNA reported.

When asked about the chances for a Kashmir solution in the perspective of recent developments in South Asia, he said: “I don’t think the major powers are interested in any territorial change in the region.”

That, he said, gives a clear indication that a solution to the Kashmir problem, as per U.N. resolutions, which mandated decades ago that Kashmiris have the right to self-determination, is not in sight at the moment.

However, according to Masood, “As long as India can manage the human rights and affairs of the Kashmir state, the U.S., UK, Russia and other nations will be satisfied and won’t offend a very large nation in the region,” he believed.

The world community is not concerned with the genuine aspirations of the people of Kashmir, the analyst maintained.

He did not appear optimistic about an early solution to the Kashmir problem. “I have my serious doubts about the major powers’ role in seeking an equitable and fair resolution of the root cause of the bitterness between Islamabad and New Delhi.”

With their vital interests linked to those of India’s in this part of the world, Masood expressed his apprehensions that the U.S. and other Western states will ever pressure India for a fair Kashmir solution.

However, he warned that the region will be under great threat of a war unless and until the world community plays its due role in paving the way to a resolution of the core issue under U.N. resolutions.

When asked about the future of the armed movement in Kashmir, Masood replied that from now on there will be more impetus on the political side and perhaps an indigenous uprising.

After the apparent de-escalation in the warlike situation between Pakistan and India, he said the threat of a military confrontation was very real and for as long as forces remain in their present position.

Masood maintained that following measures undertaken by Pakistan the ball was now in India’s court. “It is now India’s responsibility to handle the Kashmir situation,” he remarked.

That is why, he added, “India is not ready to accept the fact that cross-border movements have been reduced and keeps on alleging that Pakistan is not sincere.”

The analyst commented that it was just an excuse to cover its failings. “The fact is, India has a much greater responsibility for handling the situation in Kashmir. Earlier, for its failures, it had been blaming Pakistan,” he added.

“Both Islamabad and New Delhi could achieve a lot for their peoples if the Kashmir issue is resolved.”

But, he alleged, India instead has been extremely confrontational, particularly toward the BJP in the government. “India’s policies were aimed at specifically weakening Pakistan.”

“Being a regional (power), India is not supposed to harm the interests of other nations in this part of the world, and we give due importance to India but not at the cost of our sovereignty and self-respect,” he emphatically said.

Meanwhile, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, a senior Kashmiri leader and the president of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC) told IRNA Sunday that the world community needs to address the Kashmir question if it is to see peace between Pakistan and India.

Although Khan hailed the leading world powers’ role in the present crisis, he stressed the importance of greater involvement by such powers in addressing the Kashmir issue, the root cause of the Pakistan-India bitterness.

“I think, the U.S. and other countries understand well how important it is to see peace between the two nuclear powers in the region, but this can only be achieved if the Kashmir question is duly addressed,” he noted.

He pointed out that the recent de-escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India was for the first time that the U.S. exerted pressure on all parties and setting aside economic or political considerations which, according to him, is very encouraging for the people of Kashmir.

“Let me make it very clear that our struggle is purely for the right to self-determination, a right which is continuously being denied by respective Indian leaderships,” he continued.

Khan denied that cross-border infiltration was taking place across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides both parts of Kashmir - one under Pakistan control and the other under India.

“There is no truth in the charges of infiltration but, yes, there have been and will continue to be movements of the Kashmiris who have this liberty under the UN Security Council resolution,” he believed.

Khan was of the strong view that it was the Kashmiris’ fundamental right to move from one side of Kashmir to the other.