Mr. President,

We thank the High Commissioner for his update.

            While echoing his demand for immediate access of an independent, international and impartial commission to both sides of Line of Control, 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 Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It is in sharp contrast to India’s outright denial of the request for access.

The current situation is the result of horrifying atrocities committed by India in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.  India and not Pakistan has curbed freedom of expression and access to information by blocking 22 social media websites and applications in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It is in Indian Occupied Kashmir where mass blinding due to use of pellet guns, rape, torture, extra-judicial killings, and continuous curfews are being reported.

We urge the High Commissioner to present the complete picture in front of the Council rather than coupling Pakistan with India while addressing the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

            We had welcomed the announcement of the High Commissioner in the March session regarding preparation of remote monitoring report on areas like Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. We are looking forward for the report to be made public soon.

Mr. President,

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) had recently sent a fact finding mission to Azad Jammu and Kashmir The Commission’s request for access of a fact finding mission to the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir was rejected.

After the visit, the Commission has requested the High Commissioner to take note of the serious and widespread complaints of the gross human rights violations by the Indian forces against Kashmiris.

We urge the HC to follow this impartial and independent step forward.

Let me ask the Council, where in the world can a person be tied to the front of an army jeep as a human shield by the Authorities and the perpetrators are subsequently given medals. The Kashmiris are desperately looking towards the International community to answer their call for help for ending the nightmare of tyranny and oppression which is a result of decades of systematic state sponsored terrorism.

I thank you.