Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last made representations to his Indian counterpart on the human rights of the people of (a) Jammu and (b) Kashmir.

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

We are monitoring the situation in Kashmir closely and in regular contact with the Governments of India and of Pakistan. The Prime Minister has spoken to Prime Minister Modi about the situation. The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns about the situation with the Indian Minister for External Affairs, Dr Jaishankar. The Minister for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Minister of Minority Affairs during his visit to New Delhi this month; and engages regularly with the Indian High Commissioner. Senior officials remain in frequent contact with the Indian Government and regularly raise our concerns.

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