World must not remain indifferent to tragedy unfolding in Kashmir, Qureshi tells UN Rights Council

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that the international community "should not remain indifferent to the tragedy that unfolds before our eyes" in occupied Kashmir.

Addressing the 42nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Qureshi, referring to India's recent actions in Kashmir, said: "Today I knocked on the doors of the Human Rights Council, the deposit of global awareness of human rights, to seek justice and respect for the people of occupied India Jammu and Kashmir.

"We must not allow this august body to be ashamed on the world stage. As a founding member of this council, Pakistan feels morally and ethically obligated to prevent this from happening," he emphasized, adding that to do so, the body should not remain indifferent. to the tragedy that was unfolding in Kashmir.

"We must not allow political, commercial and parochial considerations to cloud and damage our thoughts and actions.

"We must act decisively and with conviction."

Qureshi urged UNHCR to "pay attention to the plight of the Kashmir people" and to address the warning signs of an "impending human catastrophe."

He asked the human rights council to take the following measures:

• Urge India to immediately stop the use of pellet guns, end the bloodshed, lift the curfew, reverse the blockage and blackout of communications, restore fundamental freedoms and freedoms, release prisoners politicians, stop attacking human rights defenders and comply with the obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions and various human rights instruments, as required by international law.
• Take measures to bring to justice the perpetrators of human rights violations in Kashmir and, in this context, establish an Investigation Commission (IOC), as recommended by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Authorize the Office of the High Commissioner and the special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council to monitor and report on human rights violations of India in occupied Kashmir and periodically update the council
• Calls on India to allow unhindered access to human rights organizations and international media to occupied Kashmir

India had imposed a military repression on Jammu and Kashmir in the first week of August to avoid protests against the New Delhi measure to revoke the special state of the disputed territory, with mobile phone and Internet networks still cut in all pockets, except in some. . Occupied Kashmir has seen a decades-long movement against the Indian occupation with tens of thousands, mostly civilians, killed.

The rights of cashmere are & # 39; trampled with impunity & # 39; for india

At the beginning of his speech today, the Foreign Minister said that "the basic and inalienable human rights" of the people of occupied Kashmir were being "trampled with impunity by India."

"The people of this occupied land suffer systematic and serious violations of their fundamental freedoms," he said, adding that the people in the disputed region had been "practically caged for an illegal military occupation" for the past six weeks.

"For what purpose, I ask, Mr. President?" Qureshi said addressing the president of the council.

"The answer is obvious. And it reveals the real character of a country that claims to be a bastion of democracy, federalism and secularism."

Qureshi provided a review of the situation in occupied Kashmir which, he said, had been transformed by India into the "largest prison on the planet," where basic services and the media were not accessible.

He said that stores and hospitals in the region were running out of supplies and that Kashmir's political leadership had been placed under house arrest or imprisoned. In addition, Qureshi said that more than 6,000 people had been arrested without due process.

The Foreign Minister said the international media and neutral observers also reported on the atrocities that were taking place against the people of occupied Kashmir.

"No, ladies and gentlemen, this is not a reminder of the medieval era. This barbarism is happening today, in the 21st century."

He said that with his actions, India was violating multiple international human rights instruments of which he was a part.

"This is the true story of Jammu and Kashmir, occupied by the Indians, and their subdued people that India is desperate to hide from the world. This is the true face of the so-called largest democracy in the world. This is the conduct of a country , which aspires to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. "

"The root of this chaos is India's refusal to grant the people of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by India their right to self-determination.

"This parody of justice of seven decades has been aggravated by the disastrous and twisted dream of the current Indian government, explicitly outlined in the manifesto of the ruling party, to convert, by force of arms, the Muslim majority community of Jammu and Kashmir in a minority. "

He reiterated that India's unilateral decision to revoke article 370 on August 5 was illegal under international law.

"With these illegal changes, the presence of India is, at its own discretion, a naked foreign occupation."

"India's claim that these actions are its internal matter is obviously false," said Qureshi, adding that Kashmir had been on the UN agenda for over 70 years and the UN Security Council meeting on August 16 witnessed this fact.

"What is happening in Jammu and Kashmir occupied by India is not a country-specific situation in the language of this council."

"I shudder to mention the genocide, but I must do it"

"The people of occupied India Jammu and Kashmir are apprehending the worst," said the Foreign Minister, adding that regarding the Convention on Genocide, Kashmir, as a group of national, ethnic, racial and religious people, they face "serious threats to their lives, ways of life and livelihoods of a murderous, misogynist and xenophobic regime."

"Some have said that Kashmir resonates with the silence of the cemetery. Others argue that it is a pause before a storm.

"I shudder to mention the word genocide here, but I must do it."

The Foreign Minister said that India's efforts to label "Kashmir" the struggle for self-determination as "terrorism and cross-border terrorism" are "shameful and indefensible."

He said Pakistan had suggested numerous bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, including doubling the strength of the UN Observer Mission to monitor the Control Line (LoC), which "would refute India's self-service claims."

India, however, rejected all these proposals, said Qureshi.

"I am very afraid that India will resort to false flag operations again and use the ghost of terrorism as a false clue, to divert international opinion and even attack Pakistan."

In addition, the Foreign Minister said that the rise in Indian ceasefire violations throughout the LoC and the use of cluster munitions and heavy artillery should end immediately.

"I have regularly sensitized the UN Security Council on the serious dangers for peace and security in South Asia nuclearized and beyond, as a result of the reckless stance and draconian measures of India.

"While the Security Council seizes the peace and security dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Human Rights Council must give much greater and immediate attention to the human rights of the Jammu and Kashmir peoples occupied by the Indians".

He reiterated Pakistan's support for the recommendations of two Kashmir reports issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In several reports, UN human rights chiefs have requested the establishment of an IOC, which is one of the highest level probes of the UN, generally reserved for major crises such as the Syrian conflict.

Pakistan is expected to present a resolution to the council for consideration at the end of the 42nd session on September 27.

"We urge discussions centered on the two reports in the Human Rights Council and a unanimous decision of this chamber to implement its recommendations made to India, Pakistan and above all to the Human Rights Council."

"If India has nothing to hide, it should allow unhindered access to the IOC, as recommended by the UN High Commissioner. Pakistan is ready to allow access to the proposed IOC or other mechanisms on our side of the Control Line, along with similar access to occupied India Jammu and Kashmir. "

"For seven decades, the inhabitants of Jammu and Kashmir occupied in India have waited for the implementation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council, prescribing a plebiscite to honor their right to self-determination.

"History would be an implacable judge if we fail, once again, the people of this territory occupied illegally, at their time of greatest danger," he said at the end of his speech.

Qureshi, speaking to reporters after addressing the United Nations rights forum in Geneva, said he saw "no possibility of a bilateral commitment to India" and requested that the UN Security Council act.