International human rights organizations visit IIOJK

Human rights issues in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are on the rise, but inter-agency organizations are not paying as much attention to this human tragedy as they should. The role of Western countries and international organizations in the West in this regard is more regrettable as they take a hard line on every small incident that happens in Pakistan, Iran or other Muslim countries but on the side of India their statements on the decades-long atrocities in Occupied Kashmir are merely a hoax. In such a case, people in Muslim countries not only have mistrust in their hearts towards Western countries and their institutions, but they also begin to consider these countries and institutions as enemies of Muslims, and the attitude of Western countries. And the sentiments of the Muslim masses that have arisen in response to the atrocities perpetrated against Muslims by the institutions are not unique.

While the policy of Western countries and their institutions not to raise their voice for unarmed and oppressed Kashmir in the occupied valley or not to take concrete steps against India is offensive to all Muslim nations in general and to the people of Pakistan in particular. And the fact that their organizations are worried about occupied Kashmir is also a source of great satisfaction for Pakistan. A similar consolation has recently been provided by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights (IPHRC) whose 13-member delegation on the occasion of the completion of two years of curfew in occupied Kashmir. The delegation that arrived in Pakistan on August 4 also wanted to visit occupied Kashmir but India did not allow it, which was regretted by the members of the delegation. The members of the delegation visited various parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Line of Control (LOC) to take stock of the situation.

The IPHRC delegation visited the LOC in Muzaffarabad on Friday where they were briefed on Indian firing and loss of life. On Saturday, the delegation members visited the LOC's Chari Kot sector where they were given a detailed briefing by the Armed Forces Public Relations (ISPR) on the security environment around the LOC. The ISPR briefed the delegation in detail about various arrangements including construction of community bunkers to save the citizens from hostile firing across the border. The OIC delegation also held talks with the victims of Indian unprovoked firing, members of the Village Defense Committees and the civil administration. The delegation thanked the Pakistan Army for providing an opportunity to know the ground realities and the situation on the LOC. A delegation of OIC officials from Malaysia, Morocco, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates said that the visit and the ISPR briefing had helped us to have a real understanding of the situation at the LOC. Ahmed Azam of Malaysia said he met the victims and listened to them. The Indian government is committing serious human rights violations but the international community is not punishing it. These violations should be highlighted because the massacre and suffering of Kashmiris is real. Dr Saeed Mohammad Abdullah, Chairman, IPHCR, United Arab Emirates (UAE), said the visit was important as it came after a dangerous decision by India. We believe that this decision violates the human rights of our brothers and sisters in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and will change the proportion of the population in the Occupied Territories. Representatives of Morocco, Turkey and Azerbaijan said that we express solidarity with Kashmiris and we will spread their voice all over the world as far as possible.

 

Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry welcomed the statement of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Occupied Kashmir in which he called on India's Permanent Representative to India T.S. Responding to Trimurti's statement on occupied Kashmir, he said that our position on Kashmir was fully established and had not changed. In a press conference, TS Trimurti had declared Indian-occupied Kashmir as his integral part. Zahid Hafeez said that the UN statement came two years after the Indian illegal move on August 5 and refuted India's position on Kashmir that occupied Kashmir is part of India. The Foreign Office spokesman reiterated Pakistan's position that Jammu and Kashmir was never part of India and never will be. In the face of Kashmiris' determination, India will finally have to make its mark. He clarified that Indian-occupied Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute. Kashmir is the longest-running issue on the Security Council's agenda and India will have to deliver on its promises to the international community.

 

The issue of Occupied Kashmir is one of the issues for Pakistan without which Pakistan can never sit with India. In this regard, Pakistan's position in various international forums not only informs the world about its position on the Occupied Territories, but also makes the world aware that India's expansionist ambitions are conducive to peace and security in the region. How are obstacles being created in the establishment of the visit of the IPHRC delegation is indeed very important to understand Pakistan's position on Occupied Kashmir and to know about the atrocities being inflicted on the Kashmiri people by India? Similarly, the statement of the UN Secretary General endorsing Pakistan's position on Occupied Kashmir is also very important. The Foreign Office should ask all international human rights organizations around the world to visit the self-occupied valley to review the human rights violations committed by India there so that they are aware of the real situation.