Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council about (1) the four letters written by the UN rapporteurs on torture, arbitrary detentions, extra-judiciary and custodial killings in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the government of India, and (2) the absence of any response to date by that government to those letters.

We are aware of the letters written by UN Special Rapporteurs. Kashmir was last discussed by the UN Security Council in August. The UK recognises that there are human rights concerns in India-administered Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights violations or abuse is deeply concerning and must be investigated transparently, promptly and thoroughly. We raise our concerns with the Government of India where we have them. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed Kashmir, among a number of issues, with the Indian External Affairs Minister on 15 December.