Kashmir conflict becomes center stage in aftermath of continuing violence: HR minister

RAWALPINDI, Oct 24 (APP):Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari Wednesday
said the Kashmir conflict has once again come at center stage in the aftermath of continuing violence being perpetrated by the Indian occupying security
forces against unarmed Kashmiris.
“Also, for the first time a UN body finally took the initiative with the publication of the first ever report by the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released on June 14,2018,” she said while addressing a seminar held here at Republic University.
She highlighted the need for moving forward in proactive
manner and advocating the case in an effective and appropriate manner seeking
resolution of the longstanding issue in accordance with the UN resolutions.
“The report is a credible account of the Human Rights
situation that prevails on both sides of Kashmir and first step, since the UNSC
resolutions, of the UN in recognizing its responsibility to resolve the Kashmir
issue in accordance with its own resolutions.”
The minister pointed out that taking the advantage of the
report, the UN Human Rights Council – as recommended in the report – may establish
a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive independent international
investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Indian Occupied
Kashmir (IoK).
She said there was a need to draw attention on all international forums dealing with human
rights as well as legal forums, to the human rights violations by India in IoK
as identified in the report, which are in violation of the Geneva Conventions of
1949 and customary International Humanitarian Law.
In fact, she said the case of Kashmiris before the UN is even stronger because the occupying
power itself took the dispute to the UN under Chapter VI, so both Pakistan and
India agreed to have UN intervention and to the plebiscite.
In the wake of the report, she said Pakistan should
have immediately demanded and should still demand the UNSC insist on the return
of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and other
independent observers in IoK.
She highlighted the need for presenting the blueprint for the conflict resolution premised upon the
principle of self-determination.
She said there exist a variety of conflict resolution models
that have been successfully adopted in different parts of Europe where territorial
disputes linked with the issue of self-determination prevailed so why not the
issue of Kashmir cannot be resolved.
Shireen said the dialogue process on Kashmir may be
initiated at two levels, one with India and the other with Kashmiri groups
involved in the struggle against occupation as well as the pro-India groups in
IoK.
Earlier, defence analyst Lt Gen (R) Amjad Shoaib highlighted
the need for projecting the issue of Kashmir at the appropriate forums.
He said an appropriate mode of communication be used for an effective advocacy of the
issue.
TV anchor Moeed Pirzada being a native Kashmiri said Kashmir historically had not been in direct geographical link with India rather the people of the IoK were in direct contact with the Muslims of the sub-continent
living on this side, which later became Pakistan.
Another TV anchor Fahan Hussain said Pakistan should
properly project the cause of Kshmiris and the atrocities being meted out at
the innocent people in IoK.