'Lawfare' against India suggested to prevent rights abuse in IIOJK

Law experts gather in Islamabad to discuss the situation of human rights in the Himalayan disputed territory

ISLAMABAD:

Law experts have suggested "lawfare" against India to prevent human rights abuse against residents in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

A seminar on human rights violations in IIOJK was held in Islamabad on Tuesday by the Legal Forum for Kashmir (LFK), an international advocacy group, in collaboration with All Parties Hurriyat Conference - Azad Kashmir.

Speaking at the event, retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan, a former judge at the United Nations, said: “Kashmir is a disputed territory recognised by the international community and the Responsibility To Protect in a given situation and as interim measures are the best options for IIOJK to use against India.”

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The Responsibility to Protect – known as R2P – is a global commitment endorsed by the UN to ensure action against crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Chowhan, who also served as chief justice of Gambia, said: "The state of Pakistan and people of Kashmir have the same interest of freeing IIOJK from the Indian occupation."

“Even if ICJ [International Court of Justice] is not in a position to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently, at least the other lawfare options can send urgent relief and ease the lives of the people by stopping brutal killings at the hands of Indian occupying forces,” he added.

Advocate Nasir Qadri, the executive director of LFK, said there is little possibility of direct confrontation between Pakistan and India because they are both nuclear powers.

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“Now is the high time for result-oriented pro-active steps to shame and expose Indian war crimes at the international level, and the tool for such work is lawfare,” Qadri added.

He went on to say that Kashmiri victims should come forward and give testimonies at the international legal forums which would result in the conviction of the war criminals because lawfare is not possible for Pakistan without the support of the people of IIOJK.

Faiz Naqshbandi, the convener of Hurriyet Conference Azad Kashmir chapter, also accused India of committing human rights violations in IIOJK.