-England asks India to lift all restrictions in IIOJ&K
-MPs say Indian Forces abusing human rights in IoK
-Held India responsible for the current situation in IIOJ&K
-Labor MP says UK is contributing into genocide of Kashmiris by selling arms to India
Foreign Desk Report
LONDON: The United Kingdom has asked India to lift all restrictions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and allow a team from its High Commission in Delhi to visit the occupied territory for a first-hand assessment of the situation.
The demand has been made by the UK Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland while replying to a debate on the “political situation in Kashmir” in the Westminster Hall.
During the debate British MPs said that Indian troops have detained more than 500,000 Kashmiris. Lockdown in Occupied Kashmir is not for the safety of the people.
MPs said that lockdown in Occupied Kashmir was carried out for forced occupation. The worst human rights violations have occurred in IIOJ&K. Kashmiris are also being prevented from going to hospitals.
They said that Indian soldiers were harassing and raping Kashmiri women, the UK has always spoken out for the protection of women and raised question whether statements of the MPs regarding Occupied Kashmir consistent with their actions. John Spellar, a member of the Labor Party, said that the situation in Occupied Kashmir and Punjab was not an internal matter of India. We reject this view of India.
He said that we are not against India but that does not mean that it should not be held responsible for the violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir adding that human rights are a global issue. India is responsible for the current situation in Occupied Kashmir. For the current situation in Occupied Kashmir, India changed its law.
He said that India is changing the demographics of occupied Kashmir. By changing the demographics, India wants to achieve the desired results through a possible referendum. After the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple, mass killings were carried out.
Conservative Party s Sarah said thousands of Kashmiris who had spoken out for political and human rights since last year had been imprisoned. The people of Occupied Kashmir are not being given the right to a fair trial. This conflict between the two nuclear powers should be a cause for concern.
Naz Shah, a member of the Labor Party, said that between 2015 and 2020, the UK sold arms worth 50 billion Pounds to India. These weapons will be used to shed the blood of Kashmiris. Boris Johnson postponed his visit to India, but will he stop selling arms, she asked. International governments and leaders must stop genocide of Kashmiri people at the hands of Indian forces. This is a time of peace, if we do nothing, history will not forgive us.
Responding to the debate, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister, Nigel Adams said the situation in Kashmir remains an issue for India and Pakistan and it should be resolved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people.
