Islamabad, 13 Oct 2023: Pakistan has called upon the global community to express condemnation against what it refers to as brutalities by India in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). According to a press release from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB), the appeal was made during an Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Special Rapporteur in New York. Third Secretary at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Tehreem Kanwal, communicated the concerns, highlighting issues such as torture, custodial killings, and sexual and gender-based violence that, according to her statement, persistently affect the lives of the people in IIOJK.

During the dialogue, Tehreem Kanwal expressed that the reported human rights violations and issues, including torture, custodial killings, and sexual and gender-based violence, continue to trouble the inhabitants of IIOJK. She depicted a situation where these grave human rights violations remain a haunting presence in the daily lives of the people there. Although the press release from MOIB does not include specific incidents or data, it underscores a situation of concern described by the representative.

Kanwal further articulated that maintaining and progressing respect for human dignity and rights is both a moral and legal imperative for the international community. She positioned this statement within the context of the described ongoing situation in IIOJK, implying a need for global attention and action in light of the aforementioned alleged violations.

The dialogue and its outcomes stand in a broader context of tension and ongoing conflict in the Kashmir region, a subject of international discussions and concerns over the years. While Pakistan has presented its perspective and concerns at the UN platform, it remains pivotal to note that the complex situation in Kashmir involves varied perspectives and claims, with India having its own stance and narrative on the situation, which was not presented in the press release from MOIB.