Amnesty International stands by Pakistan on Kashmir

Backing Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir, global human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Monday said the “failure by the Indian state to hold plebiscite has become a source of mounting discontent among Kashmiris”.

In its 82-page report Amnesty said, “Pakistan continues to call for implementation of UN resolution adopted in the late 1940’s urging a plebiscite; India argues that the dispute over Kashmir should be settled bilaterally in accordance with the 1972 Simla agreement between India and Pakistan.”

The report also said: “The first of a number of armed groups seeking independence for Kashmir emerged in the late 1960s but general resentment increased as a result of persistent reports of irregularities in election in J&K, notable the 1987 state elections. Many observers see the alleged rigging of these polls as a turning point in the growth of Kashmiri nationalism.”

Centre’s official stand has been that the armed struggle in Kashmir is nothing but the act of terrorism perpetuated from across the border.

However the AI report noted, “The armed uprising and its suppression by Indian security forces have resulted in grave human fights violations. AI has previously documents extensive human rights violations carried out by the security forces in J&K during counter insurgency operations with almost impunity including torture, custodial deaths, rape and enforced diapperances and extra judicial executions.”