Pakistan welcomes UN report on Kashmir
The report once again recognizes human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan on Monday welcomed the second report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Jammu and Kashmir, which calls for fully respecting the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as protected under international law.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said we again welcome the OHCHR s recommendation for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the gross and systematic human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The report once again recognizes human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.
It documents the excessive use of force by the Indian occupation forces, the continued use of pellet guns to kill and maim defenseless civilians and extrajudicial killings in the garb of so-called cordon and search operations.
It also records use of various forms of arbitrary arrests and detentions to target protestors and political dissidents, the impunity from accountability enjoyed by the Indian occupation forces under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act.
The report also notes the restrictions on expression and movement of independent journalists to prevent the voices of Kashmiris reaching the international community.
The foreign office spokesperson reiterated that there is simply no parallel between the horrendous human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir and the prevailing environment in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Unlike IoK, which is the most militarized zone in the world, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan remains open to foreign visitors.
The only solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is to grant the people of occupied Kashmir the legitimate Right to self-determination as recognized by the numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions, which is essential for the security and stability of South Asia and beyond.
Earlier, the UN rights office hammered India for failing to improve the situation in Kashmir, while renewing calls for an international probe into violations in the disputed Himalayan region.
Last year, the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released its first-ever report on Kashmir, documenting wrongdoing by both sides and urging action to reduce long-standing tensions.
In a follow up report, the rights office said India has taken any concrete steps to address the numerous concerns raised. "In Indian-occupied Kashmir, accountability for violations committed by members of the Indian security forces remains virtually non-existent," the report said.
The groundbreaking 2018 findings were particularly hard on India, highlighting "chronic impunity" for misconduct by troops.
