JKCHR urges India to honour UN commitment on Kashmir

Islamabad, (KMS): Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR) on the occasion of Black Day, October 27, has called upon India to fulfil its commitment made at the United Nations to protect the people of Jammu and Kashmir and let them freely determine their future.

According to Kashmir Media Service, in a message addressed to government and people of India, Government and people of Pakistan and United Nations on Black Day, JKCHR President Dr Syed Nazir Gilani said 79 years after Indian troops entered Jammu and Kashmir, Black Day remembrance must become a renewed demand for protection, accountability and peaceful resolution through freely expressed will of the people.

JKCHR recalled the words of India’s representative, Gopalaswami Ayyangar, before the 227th meeting of United Nations Security Council on January 15, 1948.

India had explained that it had approached the Council under Article 35 of UN Charter to invoke its assistance, prevent armed conflict and protect lives. It spoke of its hesitation and deepest regret, its commitment to exhaust every possible resource for avoiding war, and centuries of common living, culture and traditions connecting peoples of India and Pakistan.

Most significantly, India envisaged the people of Jammu and Kashmir being enabled “to carve out for themselves by a free choice of their own, the economic and political destiny that awaits them.”

India also urged that action to stop fighting should protect life, property and honour and avert war between two neighbouring States. Its appeal was explicit: “Not merely urgency but immediacy should characterise the action.”

To government of India, JKCHR said these words form part of its own presentation to international community and called upon it to honour their substance: protect life, liberty, property and dignity of people of Jammu and Kashmir; respect their political agency; and engage in a peaceful process consistent with relevant United Nations resolutions. The passage of time cannot substitute for people’s free choice.

To people of India, JKCHR appealed to their democratic conscience, saying India’s representative invoked shared history with Pakistan and placed protection of Kashmir’s people before Security Council. Upholding that humanitarian purpose and promise of free choice would honour principles proclaimed in its name.

To government of Pakistan, JKCHR said translate support for Kashmir into sustained, peaceful and accountable diplomatic action within agreed UN framework. Keep rights, safety and freely expressed wishes of people of Jammu and Kashmir at centre of policy. Their future must not be reduced to an understanding between governments that excludes them.

To people of Pakistan, it urged to continue solidarity through informed advocacy, respect for diversity of Kashmir’s people, and unwavering commitment to their right to determine their future peacefully.

To the United Nations, JKCHR said India approached Security Council seeking assistance to prevent war and save lives and called for renewed diplomatic engagement to advance relevant resolutions, protect human rights and facilitate promised free and fair plebiscite.

JKCHR said 79 years after October 27, 1947, remembrance must carry a practical purpose: protection of people, prevention of war, and fulfilment of their right to self-determination. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are holders of rights. Their free choice must guide settlement of their future.