MIRPUR (AJK)-As Kashmir is recognised by the United Nations as a disputed territory, the body is bound to speak and act for the Kashmiris’ rights, said Altaf Ahmed Wani, a veteran Kashmiri leader and human rights activist.
During a debate on agenda item 2 of the 3rd session of the UNHCR in Geneva, Wani told the gathering that it was not time to show mere concern over bloodbath of Kashmiris rather it is time to act before it is too late to control the situation, as per a message sent to the media on Thursday.
He appreciated the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on his opening statement of Sept 13, 2016. He said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed the first session. He has done a great service to the international humanitarian system by addressing the key issue as to how a number of powerful countries refuse to give access to OHCHR and other human rights mechanisms.
Terming Kashmir a perfect example, he said that nowhere is more visible today than Jammu and Kashmir, where India is refusing to allow OHCHR access to Kashmiri people. “We are shocked to see the government of India refuses this access despite the agreement of the Government of Pakistan to allow similar access to the part of Kashmir under its administration,” he observed. He said that it was not matter of conflicting and competing claims made by India and Pakistan. “It is matter of human rights of 8 million people who are under siege and are killed, blinded and tortured by the 700,000 Indian army and paramilitary forces,” he said.
Referring to reports by international media and international human rights watch dogs like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch he said that Indian forces violated all international norms of crowd control and use brutal forces against innocent civilians.
Bullets are used to kill. India is making blind the entire generation of Kashmiris,” he said, adding that despite a complete crackdown on communications, sufficient information has been sent to the Office of the High Commissioner and other special procedures and members of the council.
He noted that despite providing necessary information to relevant institutions, not a single word of condemnation was uttered by anyone over the killings of innocent civilians by occupation forces in Kashmir.
Urging India to honour its commitments on Kashmir, the APHC leader called upon the govt of India to fulfil its international responsibilities and cooperate with the international human rights machinery, the Human Rights Council, the high commissioner and his office and the special rapporteurs in Kashmir.