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Kashmir

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 14 May 2003.

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Photo of Margaret Moran Margaret Moran Labour, Luton South

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

(1) what representations he has received in the last 12 months in respect of human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir;

(2) what recent discussions he has had on introducing international human rights inspectors to Indian-held Kashmir.

Photo of Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

We have in the past 12 months received nearly 150 letters from members of the public and 37 letters from honourable Members raising concerns over the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir. We have also received a number of reports from human rights non-governmental organisations on alleged violations by the security forces and certain police groups there.

I discussed the human rights situation in Kashmir, including access for international monitors, with Mr. I.D. Swami, the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, in New Delhi on 17 October 2002. We will continue to urge the Government of India to allow access to Jammu and Kashmir for international human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, and UN Special Rapporteurs.

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