Agencies SINGAPORE

A top Pakistani general has warned that the unresolved Kashmir issue remains the "core" of animosity with India and risks "destructive escalation" if not addressed through dialogue or third-party mediation. 

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, used his platform at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday to internationalize the dispute, a stance consistently rejected by New Delhi.

Gen. Mirza advocated for "conflict resolution aligned with Security Council resolutions" and suggested various nations, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkiye, and UAE, as potential mediators. He stressed that fulfilling the "aspirations of the Kashmiri people" is crucial for lasting peace and accused India of an "extremist mindset," cautioning of irreversible "damage and destruction" if it persists. 

The general also noted a "significantly degraded" threshold for conventional warfare, hinting at rapid escalation in the nuclear-armed region. India maintains Kashmir is a bilateral issue and frequently calls on Pakistan to cease sponsoring terrorism.