Although the Kashmir Solidarity Day is celebrated on February 5 every year, on both sides of Line of Control to pledge support to the people of Kashmir for their struggle for self-determination according to the UNSC Resolution last Thursday, there was a marked difference from the past in many ways. First and foremost factors providing an impetus to the urgency for an early solution of the problem pending with the UN was the presence in Islamabad of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. This was historic in the sense that, it was the first visit of any UN secretary-general to Islamabad and New Delhi since the passing of the resolution on Kashmir in 1949. I am not sure whether Ban Ki-Moon was aware of the Day falling on the eve of his visit or was it just a coincidence. Be that as it may, the visit could have been turned into a God given opportunity, to focus on the early solution of the Kashmir problem which is blocking not only peace in South Asia but is also threatening global peace. As far as the rank and file of the common man is concerned, various political and religious parties as well as social organisations organised rallies, seminars and public meetings to express their solidarity with the people of Kashmir. Special prayers were offered by several organisations for those who had lost their lives during their struggle against the tyranny of the brutal occupation by the Indian army. The blood bath, loot and rape in IHK is beyond description. Yet this unprecedented saga of horror and human violations spread over 60 years, has failed to stir the conscious of the international community and above all the UN. Moreover, the situation in Afghanistan, FATA in particular and the recent standoff between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks have compelled the international community and the Obama administration that normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan is not possible without a just solution of the Kashmir problem according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The present global situation and particularly the current environment in our region has brought about this change of strategic assessment of the regional problem. In contrast, till recently the international community, brushed aside the Kashmir problem, as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, to be settled under the Simla Agreement. Today the situation has changed to the extent that every world leader from Obama to Ban Ki-Moon publicly declares the need for the just solution of the Kashmir problem. However problems begin to surface and block any peace initiative due to India's intransigence on the plea of Kashmir being its attoot ang. During Ban Ki-Moon's visit to Islamabad PM Gilani underscored the need for early resolution of Kashmir dispute. However, we all know the limitations of the UN. We also know that the present change of recognising Kashmir as a dispute between India and Pakistan is due to the change in the approach towards the issue by Obama who has appointed a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan region, which cannot exclude the Pak-India standoff and Kashmir, although these words are not included in the special envoys designations. The basic point to remember is that many hopes should not be pinned on external powers and support for the resolution of our basic issues involving national security and sovereignty. Pakistan therefore has to strive for political unity and economic stability to earn international support even for a just cause. The truth of the matter is that, for one reason or the other, Pakistan has not been able to adopt a strategic priority with national consensus on major domestic or foreign policy issues, including Kashmir. That has been our misfortune in spite of various rhetoric including the latest Charter of Democracy. We have to put our own house in order first and other issues like Kashmir will automatically move in the direction of resolution backed by the united strength of the people of Pakistan, Kashmir and indeed the support of the entire Muslim world. The writer is the president of the Pakistan National Forum E-mail: ikramullah@nation.com.pk