Today, on Tuesday, India and Pakistan are expected to discuss and argue on the matter Kashmir at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
India, Pakistan Expected To Contend on Kashmir Matter
Pakistan has been working towards certifying arranging of a special session of UNHRC on Kashmir and has been using its diplomatic outreach in order to get the agreement of at least 16 of the 47 members of the UNHRC. From September 9 to 27, the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council is being held at its headquarters in Geneva.
Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is going to be heading the entrustment as well as he also tweeted regarding the matter that Islamabad would “speak definitively” at the 42nd session on the alleged “atrocities in Kashmir”.
He would also make the statement around 3.30 pm IST that is expected to emphasis on the Jammu and Kashmir condition after India scrapped Article 370 which gave special status to the state.
Emphasising that Pakistan has “no locus standi” on Kashmir, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on the sidelines of a party event, “Pakistan has nothing to do with whatever happens within India. Whatever happens in India is our issue. We are in the Opposition, so we can criticise the government, but we are united outside the country and will never yield even an inch to Pakistan,”
The Indian delegation is probable to make the statement some hours later as well as it will have the “right to reply”. The Indian side is going to be led by a secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs and it will also comprise of Ajay Bisaria, who was the High Commissioner in Islamabad.
UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet, in her opening address on Monday appealed to India to “ease the current lockdown” in Jammu and Kashmir”. She said her office was getting reports on the human rights situation on both sides of the Line of Control as well as she was “deeply concerned about the impact of recent actions by the Government of India on the human rights of Kashmiris, including restrictions on internet communications and peaceful assembly, and the detention of local political leaders and activists”.
Her remarks were welcomed by Qureshi along with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who called on the UNHRC to set up an independent investigation commission in order to enquiry alleged rights abuses.
However, there was no instant response to Bachelet’s remarks from Indian officials.
In the meantime, when asked about Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s strategies to raise rights matters in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of its special status, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “As we speak, Maulana Masood Azhar is issuing threats to the Indian forces and openly advising security forces to attack our security forces. With what face will the Pakistani foreign minister speak to the UNHRC about anything on Kashmir.”
Also, according to diplomatic sources, Pakistan is going to be submitting a 115-page dossier on Kashmir at the UNHRC today.
