MUZAFFARABAD (NNP) The Center for International Strategic Studies Azad Jammu and Kashmir (CISS AJK) hosted a thought-provoking session featuring Dr. Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur, President of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, as part of its distinguished “In Conversation with Thought Leaders” series. The session revolved around the timely and pressing theme: “Indian Hegemonic Ambitions: Historical Roots, Regional Repercussions, and the Future of the Kashmir Conflict.”
Dr. Thakur delivered a hard-hitting and analytical address, delving deep into the ideological and geopolitical underpinnings of India’s aggressive regional posture. He argued that the Hindutva doctrine—India’s prevailing ideological force—bears alarming resemblance to extremist ideologies such as Zionism and Nazism, aiming to erase the Islamic identity from the Indian subcontinent. He highlighted the impact of this mindset, including the institutionalized persecution of Kashmiris and Indian Muslims, and the militarization of governance in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Describing India as a “franchise of terrorism,” Dr. Thakur asserted that New Delhi has systematically normalized violence as a statecraft tool, not only in Kashmir but across its borders—thereby destabilizing regional peace and security. He criticized the international community’s selective silence and stressed that India’s growing strategic alignments, particularly with the United States, are shaped by realist calculations and mutual interests rather than shared democratic values.
Dr. Thakur cautioned that such partnerships may face future challenges as global attention to human rights violations continues to rise. He stressed the importance of crafting a proactive and unified national narrative on Kashmir. “If we don’t respond with coordinated policy and advocacy today, India may return with twice the intensity tomorrow,” he warned.
To address this challenge, he proposed the establishment of an annual collective forum comprising Pakistani think tanks, scholars, and media professionals to create synchronized messaging and influence global opinion on Kashmir through consistent engagement.
Executive Director of CISS AJK, Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, expressed her gratitude to Dr. Thakur for his powerful insights and reaffirmed the Center’s mission to foster strategic understanding, peace, and justice in South Asia. She emphasized that academic forums such as these are crucial in building informed responses to regional challenges.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, featuring active participation from the research faculty of CISS AJK, who raised questions on international diplomacy, media narratives, and civil society’s role in conflict resolution.
