ISLAMABAD: A 12-member delegation of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday underscored the need to immediately improve the human rights situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“The OIS IPHRC delegation particularly underscored the need to immediately improve the human rights situation in the the territory under Indian occupation and just resolution of Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with UNSC Resolutions,” the Foreign Office said.
In a briefing held by Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation called for just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood briefed the delegation on the situation in IIOJK. He also highlighted the legal, humanitarian, and Peace and Security dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The foreign secretary briefed the delegation on the deteriorating situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He also highlighted the legal, humanitarian, and peace and security dimensions of the lingering Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The delegation is currently visiting Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The visit of IPHRC delegation from August 4 to 9 coincides with the completion of two years of India’s illegal steps of 5 August 2019, which it had taken in flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The OIC has always supported Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination. The delegation will also visit the Line of Control (LoC) to monitor the on-ground situation, the Foreign Office said.
“During the visit, the IPHRC delegation will travel to Muzaffarabad and the Line of Control, and interact with Kashmiri leadership, refugees from IIOJK and victims of Indian atrocities,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.
The visit is part of IPHRC’s mandate to monitor the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), especially as a result of the spate of Indian illegal actions since 5 August 2019.
“The visit would be significant in drawing international attention towards the urgent need to address the egregious human rights situation in IIOJK and for a peaceful resolution in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,” the FO said.
The Commission was mandated by the 13th Islamic Summit and the 42nd Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) to monitor the human rights violations in IIOJK and submit regular reports.
The IPHRC, at its 17th regular session held in March 2021, regretted the lack of response from the Indian government on a fact-finding visit to IIOJK. Accordingly, the Commission decided to undertake a visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir for an impact assessment.
Consistent with its mandate, the IPHRC has been expressing concern about the human rights situation in IIOJK.
In the aftermath of the illegal Indian actions of 5 August 2019, the IPHRC held an ‘Open Session’ on the situation IIOJK in November 2019 and expressed serious concern on the illegal Indian actions to change the status of IIOJK, which worsened the human rights situation.
The IPHRC, a statutory body of OIC, conducted its first visit to Pakistan and AJK in March 2017.
It submitted a detailed report on the state of human rights violations in IIOJK to the 44th Session of OIC-CFM in July 2017.
