Kashmir is terror-hit while PoK is terror-held, India tells UN

The unrest in Kashmir is one instigated by Pakistani outfits while Pakistan government is actively involved in human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan, India's external affairs ministry stated in a release issued to counter Pakistan's allegations of India's high handedness in Kashmir.

With United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein requesting both India and Pakistan to give 'unconditional access' to both sides to conduct independent probes into the Kashmir and Balochistan unrest, New Delhi on Tuesday responded saying that the situation in the valley has aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Islamabad, adding the crisis in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is different from that of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ministry of External Affair (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the UN Commissioner has been receiving conflicting narratives on the cause for confrontations in Kashmir.

'It would be recalled that the present situation arose from the death of a self-acknowledged commander of the terrorist organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, who was wanted for several terrorist acts. It was further aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan,' Swarup said.

Asserting that terrorism is the grossest violation of human rights and should be acknowledged by any impartial and objective observer, he added the high number of casualties sustained by the Indian security forces is a reflection of the restraint they have displayed in difficult circumstances.

The MEA statement:

1. We have seen the comments by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. We note that he has received conflicting narratives on the cause for the confrontations.
2. It would be recalled that the present situation arose from the death of a self-acknowledged commander of the terrorist organization, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, who was wanted for several terrorist acts. It was further aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Terrorism is the grossest violation of human rights and should be so acknowledged by any impartial and objective observer. The high number of casualties sustained by Indian security forces is a reflection of the tremendous restraint they have displayed in difficult circumstances.
3. As regards the suggestion for a visit of a mission to both sides of the Line of Control, we would underline that there is no comparison between the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The former has a democratically elected Government, while the latter has seen a Pakistani diplomat arbitrarily appointed as its head. The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is part of a pluralistic and secular democracy, where freedoms are guaranteed by an independent judiciary, an active media and a vibrant civil society. In contrast, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a 'deep state' and has become a hub for the global export of terror.
4. The issue of an external mission was considered by the All-Party Conference on 12 August 2016 that met to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. It was unanimously felt that Indian democracy has all that is required to address legitimate grievances. Accordingly, an all-party delegation visited Srinagar. Despite cross-border terrorist infiltration that saw an encounter only yesterday, Government remains fully engaged in normalizing the situation as soon as possible.
5. We hope that the connection between terrorism and violation of human rights would be recognized and deliberated upon in Geneva.