ISLAMABAD: The United Nations’ high commissioner for Human Rights has offered to send fact-finding missions to both Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), the Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday.
FO Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan was open to the idea of UN high commissioner visiting AJK.
“AJK is an area open to everyone and is frequented by foreign tourists and members of the diplomatic community in Pakistan – including representatives of the United Nations,” Zakaria said.
“The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been denied access by New Delhi to IHK – whereas Pakistan has never prevented UN officials from travelling to AJK,” he added.
On July 15, Pakistan requested the United Nations high commissioner for Human Rights to send a fact-finding mission to IHK to report on the gross violations of human rights.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have been running high since the killing of Burhan Wani, which also sparked anti-government protests in IHK and led to clashes between protesters and Indian authorities – with over 60 protestors dead.
Indian troops in IHK have reportedly fired live ammunition, used pellet guns and tear gas to control the anti-government protesters.
“Pakistan cannot accept equating the rampant human rights violations in IHK with the situation in AJK,” said Zakaria and added that the contrast between grim reality in IHK and AJK could not be starker. “It is therefore essential that the UN fact-finding team must visit IHK,” he concluded.
