Pakistan to ask UNHRC to send fact-finding team to Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Upping the ante, Pakistan today decided to approach the UN Human Rights Council over the Kashmir situation and request it to send a fact-finding mission there as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting which was dominated by the Kashmir issue.

"The Indian attempts to claim that the deteriorating human rights situation" in Kashmir is an internal affair of India is "factually incorrect, legally untenable and a violation of international law and UNSC resolutions," Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Premier's Office.

The statement was issued after Sharif presided over a high-level meeting of the National Security Committee here to discuss regional security, particularly the situation in Kashmir.

"The meeting resolved that Pakistan will approach the Human Rights Council of the United Nations on its own behalf and on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Kashmir to send a fact finding mission" to Kashmir for investigating the "slaughter of innocent civilians and impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest," the statement said.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif also attended the meeting in which a briefing was made on the situation in Kashmir and Afghanistan by the Foreign Office.

"We have provided and will continue to provide diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their fundamental right to self determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions," Sharif said.

The statement said during the meeting, it was unanimously called upon the international community to condemn "human rights violations by Indian security forces" and play its role in ensuring the realisation of UNSC resolutions.

It said the meeting expressed "grave concern" over the law and order situation in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The "continuing brutal oppression by the Indian security forces of the innocent Kashmiris who have been peacefully protesting against the Indian violence in the region" was condemned during the meeting, the statement said.

"Brutal use of force is a blatant violation of fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people which no civilised society permits," Sharif said.

The Premier reiterated that the only solution to the Kashmir issue would be "early implementation of UNSC resolutions -- a fair and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices".

Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Rashad Mahmood, National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz were among those who attended the meeting.