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Written Question
Kashmir: Politics and Government
Tuesday 4th February 2020

Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of India's revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely. We are in regular contact with the Government of India. Most recently, I raised our concerns regarding restrictions and detentions in Kashmir with the Indian Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Muraleedharan. We have called for restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible. It is important that individual rights are fully respected and that there is constructive dialogue with affected communities.


Written Question

Question Link

Wednesday 29th January 2020

Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 20 January (HL Deb, col 916) that the situation in Kashmir “needs to be resolved bilaterally”, what assessment they have made of the possibility of mediating between the governments of India and Kashmir in order to implement the recommendations made in the report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Update of the Situation of Human Rights in Indian-Administered Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir from May 2018 to April 2019.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our longstanding position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution on Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or act as a mediator. Any external mediation on Kashmir would need to be jointly agreed by India and Pakistan. We recognise that there are human rights concerns in India-administered Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir and have noted the recommendations in the OHCHR report for the authorities in India, the Government of Pakistan, and the Human Rights Council. Any allegation of human rights violations or abuses are deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently.