NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have urged the international community to investigate the mass graves in Indian Kashmir.
On Wednesday, Khar, Farooq and Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Yaqoob Khan participated in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held during the United Nations General Assembly. The OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu also attended the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khar said that the issue of mass graves was the biggest validation of Kashmiris' stance on human rights violations "The international community cannot turn away from this issue," said Khar.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that it was regrettable that the OIC fact finding mission had not been allowed to go to Indian Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters after the OIC meeting, Farooq said that the OIC should pressure the Government of India to allow it to come to Kashmir and investigate the facts. He added that there needed to be progress on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) on Kashmir.
The APHC leader also urged for the repealing of "black laws" in Indian Kashmir, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Farooq said that while Kashmir supports the dialogue between India and Pakistan, he feels that dialogue will not move forward until it is made part of the progress.
Farooq said he was happy that Pakistan's foreign minister had stated this in the meeting with her Indian counterpart, and said that leaders from Kashmir, from both sides, should be part of the dialogue.
COMMENTS (19)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@FU: Don't forget the abductions, forcible conversions and marriages of Hindu girls (children) to old men fit to be their grandfathers. Then there is also the fraudulent blasphemy charge against 11 year old, mentally-challenged Rimsha. Indeed, Pakistan's entire 65 year old history is filled with horror stories about human rights' abuses and killings of minorities -- not to forget the Ahmedis, Shias and others who are persecuted all the time.
The Indians are extremely insecure about their image in the world. They just want the world to keep seeing them as shining rising India, so whenever happens that puts a dent on that image of theirs they blow their tops and throw violent anger tantrums. If the Indians are so unhappy with Mrs. Khar's position, they should stop putting innocent Kashmiris in mass graves instead of taking pot-shots at Pakistan. Indians have only themselves to blame.
Oh are you really serious about the mass graves in Kashmir ? Good, finally, now lets take step one. How about allowing India to carry out DNA tests of these bodies and see how many of them belong to Indian Kashmiri. How come Gillani and cahoots are always opposing whatever India does right and support whatever wrong Pakistan does. Well Pakistanis, sorry to say but keep dreaming about getting Kashmir till eternity.
Ms Khar do not urge for investigation on genocide "mass graves" in Kashmir, raise this matter in the UN in an official capacity. Please stop point scoring on crimes against humanity.
its a gud step for kashmir issue... president ajk sardar yaqoob khan take gud stand for kashmir....
@raza: Its one thing that there is a commission and SC been hearing the case. We have all heard this crap since last 60+ years. End of the day, there is no conclusion. Bunch of idiot hypocrites.
Yawn at least the resident indian trolls are all riled up.
Ms. Khar please go investigate all the terrorist killling in Pakistan.
Yes, by all means investigate, how will anyone ensure that the graves are a result of Indian Army operations and not terrorists' crimes, Mr. Farooq? Also, you might want to take a look at Balochistan before warming up to the Pakistanis - I recently read reports that they have decided not to allow any more UN missions in Pakistan because the last one wanted to meet people and agencies they obviously didn't want anyone meeting - begs the question why they wouldn't want that. Let them first show their keenness to be investigated for their own countries affairs and then poke their useless noses in Indian affairs.
Who will investigate disappearance of Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan during the last 65 years?
" ... Khar, Hurriyat leader urge investigation of Indian Kashmir mass graves ... "
Ms. Khar - will you accept remains if they are found to be of Pakistanis ? Your country has a bad record of not accepting your dead combatants.
@FU
we are doing it may be you have heard there is a commission and SC been hearing the case, bunch of indians hypocrites.
Kashmir is an internal matter of India. Don't worry, all Hurriyat leaders will die their natural death. We will not get them killed and make a hero out of them like Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Yes, after finishing their investigation on Baluchistan massacres and Shia killings in Gilgit Baltistan, the UN investigation team can drop down in Indian Kashmir to relax in peace after such a long and tough work!!!!
Be prepared when Indian FM addresses at UN similar meet for Balochistan, Ahmedias, and Shias of Parachinar!
What a bunch of hypocrites.Why not ask the same for missing persons in Balochistan. Just few days before you said you will not allow UN again.