ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday called on India to allow humanitarian organizations as well as international media access into the disputed Kashmir valley so they could investigate the human rights situation in the territory.
He said this in his message on Kashmir Solidarity Day, a national holiday marked on February 5 in Pakistan each year.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region has been at the heart of more than 70 years of animosity since the partition of British-ruled India into Muslim Pakistan and majority Hindu India in 1947. Two of the three wars they have fought since have been over Kashmir, which both nations claim in full but rule in part.
Ties have been particularly tense since August 2019 when India revoked the autonomy of its portion of Kashmir, putting in place curfews and communication blockades. In recent months the diplomatic relationship has worsened further as Delhi and Islamabad each ejected half of its neighbor’s diplomats.
“Pakistan reiterates its call on the world community to hold India accountable,” PM Khan said. “India must ... adhere to its international human rights obligations, and honor the commitment to grant to Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.”
“There should be immediate lifting of the military siege and communications blockade … All those arbitrarily arrested and illegally incarcerated should be released,” Khan added. “The international human rights and humanitarian organizations, as well as the international media, should be allowed access to investigate the grave human rights situation in the occupied territory.”
Allow international bodies, media to investigate rights situation in Kashmir, Pakistan tells India
https://arab.news/6w7wv
Allow international bodies, media to investigate rights situation in Kashmir, Pakistan tells India
- Kashmir Solidarity Day is a national holiday in Pakistan commemorated on February 5 each year
- There should be immediate lifting of military siege and communications blockade in Kashmir, PM Khan says
Pakistan warns Afghanistan of ‘necessary defense measures’ if it fails to rein in ‘terrorists’
- Pakistan’s UN ambassador accuses Afghan Taliban of supporting “terrorist” groups in Afghanistan at latest Security Council meeting
- Kabul denies Islamabad’s allegations it supports cross-border militancy, saying it cannot be responsible for Pakistan’s security issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week warned Afghanistan that Islamabad would take “all necessary defense measures” if Kabul failed to take action against militants that he alleged operate from Afghan soil.
Ahmad was speaking during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan during which he said Pakistan had lost 1,200 lives to “terrorism” this year that were planned, financed and orchestrated under the Afghan government’s watch.
The development takes place as tensions persist between Islamabad and Kabul after deadly October clashes between the two that killed dozens of people on both sides. Pakistan routinely blames Afghanistan for not taking action against Pakistani Taliban militants allegedly present on Afghan soil. Kabul denies the allegation and says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
Tensions escalated in late November after two rounds of failed talks in Doha and Istanbul between the two sides. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out strikes on its territory. Pakistan’s military denied the claims as the Taliban vowed to retaliate.
“The Taliban must take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist groups based on their soil, failing which; Pakistan will take all necessary defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty,” Ahmad said on Wednesday.
“We also expect UNAMA [United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan] to provide an objective assessment of the security situation at the border. Incidents related to border clashes are primarily an issue of terrorism and peace and security.”
https://x.com/PakistanUN_NY/status/1998837227053572565
The Pakistani UN ambassador hoped the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan would promote a “conducive environment for sincere dialogue” that addresses Islamabad’s security concerns instead of working at cross purposes.
He said elements within the Afghan Taliban rank and file are supporting “terrorist groups” in Afghanistan such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army, Al-Qaeda, Daesh and other outfits. He alleged that the Taliban were allowing these militants “safe passage” to operate with impunity.
“There is also credible evidence of collaboration among these terrorist groups through joint training, illicit weapons trade, refuge to terrorists, and coordinated attacks against Pakistan using the Afghan soil,” he said.
Heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan saw cross-border clashes between the two sides last week, which according to Afghan officials, claimed five lives. Both accused each other of violating the ceasefire via unprovoked firing.
