Kashmiri group hopes for Trump’s support

America-based group calls on President-elect to mediate

The US-based World Kashmir Awareness organisation expressed the hope that the US President-elect, Donald Trump, would help resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute to establish durable peace in the region.

As Trump prepares to assume the presidency on Friday, the organisation’s Secretary General, Ghulam Nabi Fai, in a statement addressing the Presidentelect, said he hoped that Trump would help mediate on the issue to get the Kashmiris their right to self-determination.

‘Valuable aid’

Referring to Trump’s promise during his election campaign to help resolve the Kashmir issue, Fai was quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan as saying that the sentiments expressed by him were both humane and pragmatic. “We believe that your desire to mediate and bring the parties together is extremely valuable right now,” he said, adding Kashmiris do not visualise a settlement that would be unrealistic. “But we do ask for a settlement that would be in accordance with the wishes of 20 million people of the state, impartially ascertained.”

“Denying Kashmiris their right is a very dangerous game, particularly when the will for self-determination has only grown stronger with time,” he added.