Conflict

Pakistan not adhering to Shimla Agreement on Kashmir: India tells UNHRC

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Srinagar: Accusing Pakistan of pursuing political objectives in Kashmir, India told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Islamabad’s “continued support to militant groups is part of its security and foreign policy to de-stabilize” Kashmir.

Exercising its third right of reply (RoR) to a Pakistani statesman, India said, “the foremost challenge to stability in Kashmir is the scourge of terrorism which receives sustenance from Pakistan and the territories under Pakistan control.”

India said, “Pakistan has been misusing the august platform to pursue its political objectives and keeps referring to UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. But it forgets its own obligation under these resolutions to first vacate the illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.”

On June 07 this year, the UNHRC chief had reiterated his request for “unconditional access” of his office to the troubled regions of “India-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir”.

The UN rights body chief had warned that the denial of access will eventually lead to “various forms of remote monitoring” by his office and making the reports public.

However, Pakistan had responded, “…we would clarify that Pakistan has expressed its readiness to allow the UN team sent by the High Commissioner to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir together with the other part of Jammu and Kashmir under India.”

Today, India blamed Pakistan of “not adhering to the obligations under the 1972 Shimla Agreement, the 2004 Joint Declaration foreswearing terrorism as well as the understanding between the two Prime Ministers at Ufa in Russia”.

“Contrary to Pakistan claims, and in gross violation of UN Security Council resolution 1267, the designated terrorist entities and organisations continue to carry out their objectives freely,” the statement added.

“Pakistan has been resorting to diversionary tactics as India has already handed over concrete evidence to Pakistan about their cross- border encouragement and support for the protests in Kashmir.”

“India has a robust institutional framework in place to ensure adherence of law and respect for fundamental rights of the people,” the statement said.

India asked Pakistan to “introspect and focus on improving human rights situation and dismantling the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a deep-state and has become an epi-centre of terrorism. Pakistan’s human rights record in Pakistan’s Occupied Kashmir and Balochistan is deplorable”.

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