Pakistan Urges UN to Appoint a Special Envoy on Kashmir
Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to internationalize the burning Kashmir issue as local Kashmiris are facing the wrath of Indian security forces.
By Rakesh Raman
Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has raised the issue of Kashmir with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Abbasi gave a dossier documenting human rights violations in “Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir” to Guterres on Thursday.
The Pakistan PM urged the UN Secretary General to appoint a special envoy on Kashmir. He said it was necessary since India had closed all the doors on any dialogue.
Abbasi also briefed the Secretary General about ceasefire violations by Indian security forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and said there had been around 600 violations this year alone.
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Earlier, Abbasi reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the just struggle of people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) for their right of self-determination. He directed continued projection of grave human rights violations in IoK by the Indian occupation forces.
Human Rights Violations in India
Meanwhile, in a report released in September 2017, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said that India is among those countries where human rights situation is “Darker and Dangerous.” Click here to read the report.
Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to internationalize the burning Kashmir issue as local Kashmiris are facing the wrath of Indian security forces which are hell-bent to crush all voices that demand freedom from India.
[ Pakistan Asks U.S. to Protect Human Rights in Kashmir ]
Kashmir has been facing a series of violent incidents since the killing of a 22-year-old rebel leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces last year on July 8 in an encounter which many believe was avoidable.
More than 100 people died and thousands injured in the conflicts between the supporters of Burhan Wani and the Indian security forces in Kashmir, which is a disputed territory between India, Pakistan, and China.
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Kashmir has always been a conflict area between India and Pakistan since 1947 when both these countries got freedom from the British rule. In order to stake their claims over Kashmir, India and Pakistan have fought two bloody wars in 1965 and 1971, besides incessant skirmishes between the rival armies.
According to the PM office, the UN Secretary General said Pakistan is very dear to his heart and said he had visited the country many times.
The UN Secretary General said he himself witnessed Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations and he was a great admirer of Pakistan’s efforts in this regard. He said he was also a great admirer of Pakistan’s democratic consolidation, according to the PM office.
He also conveyed the gratitude of the United Nations for Pakistan in its peacekeeping efforts.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government’s National award-winning journalist. He had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businesses use technology for brand marketing and business development. He also runs a free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
Photo courtesy: Pakistan PM Office
