British MP deplores rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir

Says use of pellet guns by the Indian forces was unacceptable

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has deplored the human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).



She also said that the use of pellet guns by the Indian forces was unacceptable. Thornberry expressed her concern in a meeting with PM’s special envoys on Kashmir Senator Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum and MNA Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh at the British Parliament.

The two envoys briefed the shadow foreign secretary on the gross human rights violations in IOK. They reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to resolve the issue peacefully. They also urged Thornberry to raise the issue in the House of Commons.



The envoys appealed the UK government to send a fact finding mission of British parliamentarians to IOK. Thornberry said the only solution to the conflict was through peaceful dialogue, keeping in view the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. She also praised the role of the Kashmiri diaspora for highlighting the just cause of Kashmir in UK.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2016.