WASHINGTON: India's growing influence and economic power have enabled it impose a "gag order" on Kashmir with western countries being unwilling to raise the issue at the international level, including in the UN, 'president' of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has claimed.
Masood Khan, a former Pakistani Ambassador to the United Nations, is currently here for what he described as part of his effort to apprise the international community about the current situation in Kashmir.
He said India had veto on the talks between the two South Asian neighbours.
"India has strategic alliances with certain countries.
Because of the lucrative deals that it offers to powerful countries in the West, it has practically imposed a gag order on Kashmir," Khan claimed yesterday at the thinly-attended Atlantic Council, a top American think-tank.
He alleged that because of India's increasing influence, "people here (in Washington DC), in Brussels, in London or other world capitals don't talk about Kashmir, because this would have consequences for these countries, like in terms of economic transactions, and strategic costs".
Responding to questions at the event, Khan alleged that the UN was not acting on its own resolution because of India.
"The United Nations is not acting because of real politics," he said.
The Security Council is not taking cognisance of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which is regrettable because of mandate that is given to the Security Council by the UN charter under chapter six and chapter seven, he said.
Khan argued that the UN should act and be proactive.