FM Qureshi speaks to UN Secretary General, discusses rights violations in occupied Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday spoke with United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) António Guterres and discussed India’s human rights violations and the security situation in occupied Kashmir.

Speaking to the foreign minister, the UN Secretary General said the world body is watching the alarming situation in occupied Kashmir and that his organisation would continue playing its role in this matter.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that India's unilateral steps in occupied Kashmir had caused a precarious situation for peace in the region. 

The foreign minister said reports about the situation in occupied Kashmir from international media and international human rights organisations were alarming. He said India had put the entire occupied Kashmir region under complete lockdown and banned communications. He said India's steps contravened international laws and violated UN resolutions.

Secretary General Guterres said he was closely monitoring the situation and would remain engaged on the evolving developments.

The foreign minister and the secretary general agreed to remain in contact.

Occupied Kashmir has been under curfew and lockdown since August 5 after the Indian government abolished Article 370, which granted special status to the valley. The curfew and lockdown have led to protests in the valley with thousands of Kashmiris including Hurriyat leaders placed under house arrest or detained.

UN-based organisation Genocide watch has issued an alert and urged the United Nations and its members to warn India not to commit genocide in occupied Kashmir.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned the international community that the leadership of Indian would probably attempt a false flag operation to divert attention from the massive human rights violations and unleashing of terror in occupied Kashmir.

In a meeting held last week, members of the United Nations Security Council for the first time in five decades discussed the critical situation in occupied Kashmir, urging parties to the dispute to refrain from taking any unilateral action.