India on Thursday rejected a United Nations Human Rights Office report that alleged widespread rights abuse by the Indian armed forces on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and called for an international investigation into such 'instances'.
A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the first-ever U.N. report on human rights situation in the province ‘violates’ India’s sovereignty and integrity. It declared that India would continue to take measures to deal with cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.
The MEA said, “It is a selective compilation of largely unverified information. It is overtly prejudiced and seeks to build a false narrative. The report violates India’s sovereignty and integrity. ...it is disturbing that those behind this report have chosen to describe internationally designated and U.N.-proscribed terrorist entities as ‘armed groups’ and terrorists as ‘leaders’. This undermines the U.N.-led consensus on zero tolerance to terrorism.''
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, releasing the report said, “It is also why I will be urging the U.N. Human Rights Council to consider establishing a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir.”
Incorrect description in report 'mischievous'
India reiterated that it does not recognise the geographical territories as defined in the report. It said, “The incorrect description of Indian territory in the report is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” and “Gilgit-Baltistan”.
The MEA also said that the report failed to take into account the global consensus on terrorism and added, “Terrorism is the most egregious violation of human rights. Yet the authors have conveniently ignored the pattern of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan and territories under its illegal control.”
