Kashmir Update: Written Parliamentary Questions to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office


I recently tabled a number of Written Parliamentary Questions to Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Kashmir. You can read my questions and the FCO’s answers below.

Question:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports of alleged human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

Answer:


Mrs Heather Wheeler

?We recognise that there are human rights concerns in India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards. Any allegations of human rights violations and abuses are deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly, transparently and independently.

We are in regular contact with the Governments of India and Pakistan and have discussed the situation in Kashmir, including the issue of human rights. We will continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir closely.

Question:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of claims made by the Pakistani Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari in a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that India has used cluster munitions in Kashmir.

Answer:


Mrs Heather Wheeler

We are aware of reports of the use of cluster munitions by Indian security forces. We discourage states from using cluster munitions, and urge non-States Parties such as India to accede to the Cluster Munitions Convention without delay.

Question:


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to acquire accurate information on the situation on the ground in Indian-administered Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

Answer:


Mrs Heather Wheeler

?We are following the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan. The Prime Minister has spoken to both Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Khan about the situation in Kashmir. The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the Indian Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar. The Minister for South Asia has discussed the situation with the Indian Minister for Minority Affairs and engages regularly with the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners. In addition our High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad are also engaging the Indian and Pakistani Governments and monitoring events and developments closely. Events in Kashmir can have regional and international implications and we continue to urge calm and caution from all.

I believe the FCO skirted some of the issues I raised in my questions, and I have now tabled the following questions in an attempt to get a fuller answer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer 5006 of 24 October 2019, for what reason he did not provide an assessment of the accuracy of reports of the use of cluster munitions by Indian security forces against civilians in Kashmir.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it is the government’s policy that the use of cluster munitions against civilians constitutes a grave human rights violation.

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