United Nations

India Pakistan War of Words at United Nation for J&K;

• Report rights infringement
• published: 16 Sep 2016
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General Debate (Cont'd) - 5th Meeting, 33rd Regular Session Human Rights Council Pakistan (Right of Reply) India (Right of Reply) Opening Statement by Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Geneva, 13 September 2016 Two months ago, I requested the agreement of the Governments of India and Pakistan to invite teams from my Office to visit both sides of the line of control: in other words the India-Administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. We had previously received reports, and still continue to do so, claiming the Indian authorities had used force excessively against the civilian population under its administration. We furthermore received conflicting narratives from the two sides as to the cause for the confrontations and the reported large numbers of people killed and wounded. I believe an independent, impartial and international mission is now needed crucially and that it should be given free and complete access to establish an objective assessment of the claims made by the two sides. I received last Friday a letter from the Government of Pakistan formally inviting an OHCHR team to the Pakistani side of the line of control, but in tandem with a mission to the Indian side. I have yet to receive a formal letter from the Government of India. I therefore request here and publicly, from the two Governments, access that is unconditional to both sides of the line of control. At the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in a right of reply, the Pakistani delegate asked India to respond for the Council’s information that: Can India deny that the situation in Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute on which there are number of UN resolutions? Can India deny that the UN has expressly called for the holding of an impartial plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the Kashmiri people? Can India deny there are over 700,000 military and para-military forces deployed in IOK, which amounts to a shocking ratio of 1 military person to 70 civilians? Can India deny that since 1989 around 100,000 civilians have been killed in IOK and that there are well documented reports of mass graves – a proof of fake encounters in which indigenous Kashmiris have been killed using the false pretext of infiltration? Can India deny that in the most recent indigenous uprising in the wake of Burhan Wani’s extra-judicial killing on 8 July, over 100 Kashmiris have lost their lives, 10,000 injured and over 700 injured in their eyes due to pellet guns causing either complete or partial blindness for life time? Can India deny that the entire valley of Kashmir is under curfew since past two months? Second Right of Reply by India in response to the Statement by Pakistan under the Agenda Item 2 during the 33rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council September 14, 2016 Mr President, We strongly reject Pakistan’s continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This stems from Pakistan’s territorial ambitions over Kashmir that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions. Pakistan continues to be in illegal occupation of a large part of territory in Jammu and Kashmir. The fundamental reason for disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan which has provided active support since 1989 to separatist groups and terrorist elements including those operating from the territory under Pakistan’s control. Pakistan’s dismal track record is well known and many countries have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to end cross-border infiltration; dismantle the terrorism infrastructure; and stop acting as an epicentre of terrorism. Pakistan has alleged human rights violations in India. Our credentials as a peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society that is deeply committed to the welfare of its people are well established. On the contrary, Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan. The institutions of governance in Pakistan have corroded to such an extent that it has become a hub for the global export of terror. It will be in the fitness of things if instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere, Pakistan were to focus its energies on improving human rights situation within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. It must also take action against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours who are roaming freely in Pakistan with impunity, so that terrorism emanating from Pakistan - the gravest risk for peace and stability of the region - could be addressed effectively. Thank you.