OIC rights delegation to visit AJK

A 12-member delegation of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will visit the Line of Control (LoC) to monitor the on-ground situation, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.

“During the visit, the IPHRC delegation will travel to Muzaffarabad and the Line of Control, and interact with the Kashmiri leadership, refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and victims of Indian atrocities,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The Foreign Office mentioned that the visit of the IPHRC from August 4 to 9 coincided with the completion of two years of India’s illegal steps of August 5, 2019, which it had taken in flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Read: OIC SG underscores principal stance on J&K dispute: FO

The visit is part of the IPHRC’s mandate to monitor the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in the IIOJK, especially as a result of the spate of Indian illegal actions since August 5, 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.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)