Kashmir issue Updates: India slams Pakistan over 'genocide' charge, says rhetoric won't distract world from its persecution of minorities

Pakistan realises our decision creates obstacles in its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism: India

At UNHRC, Indian diplomat Vimarsh Aryan said, “We’re not surprised at Pakistan’s hysterical statements with false narratives aimed to politicise and polarise this forum. Pakistan realises that our decision cuts away ground from under its feet by creating obstacles in its continuing sponsorship of cross-border terrorism.”

Modification of Article 370 within our sovereign right, says India

In India’s official reply to Pakistan’s statement on Kashmir at the UNHRC, MEA secretary Vimarsh Aryan said, “Article 370 was a temporary provision of the Indian Constitution. Its recent modification is within our sovereign right and entirely an internal matter of India.”

Pakistan should stop crying and lying at UNHRC: Congress’ AM Singhvi

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi lashed out at Pakistan for its remarks in UNHRC against India over Kashmir. “Pakistan is the Auschwitz concentration camp for minorities. It is similar to the Nazi gas chambers for minorities,” he said, while asking the Pakistan government to “stop crying and lying” at UNHRC and instead ensure human rights for minorities, and people living in Balochistan, PoK, and Sindh.

At UNHRC, India speaks on NRC

Speaking on the NRC exercise in Assam, MEA’s Vijay Singh Thakur told UNHRC, “NRC is a statutory, transparent, and a non-discriminatory legal process, mandated and monitored by Supreme Court of India. Any decision that is taken during its implementation will comply with the Indian laws will be consistent with India’s democratic traditions.”

‘India has suffered greatly on account of State-sponsored terrorism’

India told the UNHRC, “The world, in particular India, has suffered greatly on account of State-sponsored terrorism. It is time to collectively take decisive and firm action against terror groups who threaten fundamental right to life. We must speak out. Silence alone emboldens terrorists.”

India also hit out at Pakistan, accusing it of a running commentary with offensive rhetoric of false allegations and concocted charges against New Delhi. 

#WATCH Secy (East) MEA at UNHRC: A delegation has given a running commentary with offensive rhetoric of false allegations & concocted charges against my country. World is aware that this narrative comes from epicentre of global terrorism, where ring leaders were sheltered for yrs pic.twitter.com/x8LL9lJyX0

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2019

Progressive policies will now apply to J&K, Ladakh citizens: India

“As a result of recent legislative measures, progressive policies will now be fully applicable to our citizens in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. These will end gender discrimination, better protect juvenile rights and make applicable rights to education, information, and work,” MEA’s Vijay Thakur Singh said.

Secretary (East) MEA at UNHRC: As a result of recent legislative measures progressive policies will now be fully applicable to our citizens in J&K, & Ladakh.These will end gender discrimination,better protect juvenile rights&make applicable rights to education, information,& work pic.twitter.com/MBrtB3J5dl

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2019

Decisions on J&K were sovereign, entirely India’s internal matter: Vijay Thakur Singh at UNHRC

Speaking at the UNHRC headquarters in Geneva, MEA secretary east Vijay Thakur Singh said, “The decision (to revoke Article 370) was taken by our Parliament. These were sovereign decisions which is entirely India’s internal matter. Basic services are being eased gradually (in Kashmir). My government is taking affirmative action by adopting progressive policies to promote socio-economic equality and justice”:

India hits back at Pakistan at UNHRC

MEA’s Vijay Thakur Singh made a statement on India’s behalf at UNHRC. Hitting out at Pakistan, she said, “The world is aware that this false narrative comes from the epicentre of terrorism.”

Kashmir neither shut nor under curfew: Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that Kashmir is “neither shut nor under curfew’ but only under certain restrictions. 

He warned anti-India forces that they have to soon change their mentality that they can do anything and get away with it. “We need to condemn such statement (that Kashmir is under curfew and totally shut). Kashmir is not shut. There is no curfew. If there is curfew, people have to go out with curfew passes,” he told reporters in Jammu. 

“No person in Kashmir is being asked for curfew pass. However they are expected not to disturb peace. There are some restrictions,” he added. Singh was addressing the press conference to highlight achievements of the Narendra Modi government during its first 100 days.

PTI

India’s statement on Kashmir delayed by 45 minutes, says report

According to a report, India’s statement on Kashmir at the UNHRC has been delayed by 45 minutes. It was supposed to begin around 6 pm.

Indian statement at UNHRC likely to begin around 6 pm

The Indian statement at UNHRC, to be made by Secretary East Vijay Thakur Singh, is expected to begin around 6 pm. India is likely to exercise its right of reply to Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s statement after 8 pm. ​According to reports, Vimarsh Aryan, a diplomat from Jammu and Kashmir, will reply to Qureshi.

Eight LeT ’terrorist associates’ arrested for circulating posters to threaten locals in Sopore

Eight Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) “terrorist associates” were arrested from Sopore area of Kashmir’s Baramulla district for allegedly circulating posters to locals to threaten and intimidate them at the behest of militants, police said on Tuesday.

Posters have come up in parts of Kashmir which give a message of “civil curfew” and ask people to enforce civil “disobedience”. He said the “terror associates” were arrested following the appearance of these posters in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in which locals were threatened and intimidated. 

The spokesperson said according to the initial investigation, it is learnt that eight terrorist associates — Aijaz Mir, Omar Mir, Tawseef Najar, Imitiyaz Najar, Omar Akbar, Faizan Latief, Danish Habib and Showkat Ahmad Mir — were involved in the offence. 

PTI

Qureshi trolled on Twitter for ‘Indian state’ remark

Several Indian users on Twitter trolled and mocked Shah Mahmood Qureshi for “finally admitting” that Jammu and Kashmir was as an Indian state.

Ever since the revocation of Article 370, India has been asserting that its decisions regarding Jammu and Kashmir are an “internal matter”. Qureshi’s remark prompted several users to ask why Pakistan was continuing to “interfere” in the region despite “knowing” that Jammu and Kashmir is an Indian state.

Thanks Mr Qureshi for acknowledging that #JammuKashmir is integeral part of India 🇮🇳. Der Aaye Durust Aaye! And for better understanding.. @SMQureshiPTI sab let me make it clear that any elected govt has all legal n sovereign rights to do administrative changes in its ruled part. https://t.co/OjlOs6y7QG

— awasthis (@awasthis) September 10, 2019

Thanks Mr Qureshi for acknowledging that #JammuKashmir is integeral part of India 🇮🇳. Der Aaye Durust Aaye! And for better understanding.. @SMQureshiPTI sab let me make it clear that any elected govt has all legal n sovereign rights to do administrative changes in its ruled part. https://t.co/OjlOs6y7QG

— awasthis (@awasthis) September 10, 2019

Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir indeed! Lol https://t.co/08ORHnxQaQ

— Rishi Suri (@rishi_suri) September 10, 2019

@fawadchaudhry Thanks God,truth can not be hidden for a long period of time. Today foreign minister of Pakistan admitted in UNHRC that Jammu & Kashmir is an Indian state. It took more than 70 yrs to accept the status. Now question comes naturally that why Pakistan is interfering?

— लाल प्रताप सिंह चौहान (@lllalpratap) September 10, 2019

"Go into the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and see for themselves”... so foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi went to Geneva to surrender or what? 🙄 pic.twitter.com/GRvZuMw5HR

— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) September 10, 2019

Shah Mahmood Qureshi calls Kashmir as ‘Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir’ in Geneva

Addressing reporters in Geneva, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, “India is trying to give an impression to the world that life has returned to normalcy. If the life has returned to normalcy, then I’ll say why don’t they allow you, the international media, international organisations, the NGOs, civil society organisations to go into the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and see for themselves what the reality is? They’re lying through their teeth, and once the curfew is lifted, the reality comes out, the world will wake up to the catastrophe that is underway right now.”

#WATCH: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi mentions Kashmir as “Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir” in Geneva pic.twitter.com/kCc3VDzVuN

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2019

Nirmala Sitharaman slams Rahul Gandhi after Shah Mehmood Qureshi reportedly quotes him in Pak dossier

Amid reports that Rahul Gandhi was quoted by Pakistan in it’s dossier against India to UNHRC, Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the Congress leader for making ‘irresponsible statements’ that fueled Pakistan’s attack against India.

‘India using bogey of terror to divert attention of the international community’, says Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Human rights being trampled with impunity by India: Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “The basic and inaniable rights of people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are being trampled with impunity by India. The people of this occupied land are suffering systematic and serial violations of their fundamental rights.”

Shah Mehmood Qureshi quotes BBC report to allege human rights violations in India’s Jammu and Kashmir, terms military action ‘genocide’

Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan ready to grant external agencies access to PoK if India does the same

Pakistan’s foreign minister told the UN Human Rights Commision that the country was ready to grant access to international bodies to probe the state of people residing in territory occupied by its military, if India agreed to grant a similar access in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi compares situation in Jammu and Kashmir to Rwanda’s pogrom

Pakistan’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi begins speech at UNHCR session

Pakistan’s 115-page dossier to UNHRC quotes Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdullah on Kashmir, say media reports 

Various media reports from Pakistan suggest that Islamabad will be submitting a 115-page dossier on Kashmir at the UNHRC today. The 115-page dossier which will be submitted by Pakistan in UNHRC today has also been allegedly leaked to local media. News18 reported that the dossier quotes remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and National Conference president Omar Abdullah in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 provisions.

Recap: Pakistan hands over dossier about ‘India-sponsored’ terrorism to officials during Kartarpur corridor talks 

Islamabad last week handed over to India a collection of documents containing information regarding ‘Indian-sponsored terrorism’ inside Pakistan, according to reports. The dossier was given to Indian officials on September 4, at a meeting conducted to discuss the Kartarpur Corridor, where Indian diplomats tabled security concerns regarding pro-Khalistan activities in the porous region, reported The Times of India.

The dossier was dismissed by officials, who said it was Pakistan’s attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue.

India takes strong exception to reference of Jammu and Kashmir in Pak-China joint statement

India on Tuesday objected to the reference made to Jammu and Kashmir in a China-Pakistan joint statement issued after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Islamabad. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also talked about the China-Pakistan economic corridor in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, asserting that India is “resolutely opposed” to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in the region.

“We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of the Chinese foreign minister. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India,” he said, responding to a question on the issue.

UK-based Mohajir leader exposes atrocities committed by Pakistan Army in PoK

At a time when Pakistan is gearing up to table its false narrative of human rights violation in Kashmir at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva today, a UK-based Mohajir leader has exposed the atrocities committed by its military establishment in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Highlighting the grim situation in PoK, Aarif Aajaki on Tuesday said that the entire region is witnessing massive pro-freedom protests since past two days. He added that multiple rallies are being taken out to condemn atrocities committed by Pakistan.

The Mohajir leader stressed that Pakistan, since the past 72 years, has been playing the Kashmir card on the global platform, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations. “We thought they will do something for us. But instead of fighting wars the military commanders are engaging themselves in Twitter war,” Aajaki noted

Pakistan to submit 115-page dossier to UNHRC alleging human rights’ violations in Kashmir

Pakistan will try to make the most of its last chance before the UN General Assembly to catch world’s attention over Jammu and Kashmir when it takes up the issue during the ongoing 42nd UN Human Rights Session. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is expected to submit a 115-page dossier alleging human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

China, Pakistan oppose unilateral decision on J&K in joint statement

China on Monday opposed ‘any unilateral actions that complicate the situation’ in Jammu and Kashmir as it maintained that the issue should be “peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.” The remarks were made in a joint statement at the conclusion of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit to Pakistan.

Ajit Doval tells Kashmiris to ‘go on with their lives’ sans internet 

On Saturday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said mobile phone and Internet services can easily be used by Pakistan and terrorists for subversive activities, but the denial of these services should not prevent people from going about their lives. 

“Even before Internet came into our lives people were going about their lives doing business,” he said, while acknowledging that people are unhappy with these restrictions. “In any society, people always want more than what they have. But to us their life is more important,” Doval said adding that 92.5 per cent of the geographical area of Jammu and Kashmir is now without restrictions.

Donald Trump offers to help India-Pakistan again, says mediation offer still open

President Donald Trump has again offered to help India and Pakistan despite a meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month in which both the world leaders agreed that Kashmir was a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump said, “I am willing to help them if they want. They know that. That (offer) is out there.”

RECAP | ‘Won’t give an inch to Pakistan’: Shashi Tharoor after Shah Mehmood Shah leaves for Geneva to raise Kashmir issue 

After Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi embarked on a three-day visit to Geneva on Monday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had slammed Pakistan over the Kashmir issue and said that the Opposition parties in India stand united with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter being taken to the United Nations.

“Pakistan has no locus standi as far as India’s internal matters are concerned. We are in the Opposition, we can criticise the government in the country over Kashmir, but outside India, we are one. We will not give even an inch to Pakistan,” Tharoor told reporters.

RECAP | At UN closed-door meet, participating nations term Kashmir issue as India’s ‘internal matter’

Calling out India for “massive violations of International Human Rights Law” in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had written to the United Nations in August. But its efforts fell flat at the closed-door meeting in the UN, when all participating nations, excluding China, had sided with India and terming the issue of Jammu and Kashmir as an internal matter.

UN high commissioner for human rights  ‘deeply concerned’ over Kashmir situation 

In the backdrop of today’s face off at the United Nations Human Rights Commission’s session is UN High Commissioner’s statement on severe restrictions imposed on Kashmir. 

“I am deeply concerned about the impact of recent actions by the Government of India on the human rights of Kashmiris, including restrictions on internet communications and peaceful assembly, and the detention of local political leaders and activists,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in her opening statement at the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council.

“While I continue to urge the Governments of India and Pakistan to ensure that human rights are respected and protected, I have appealed particularly to India to ease the current lock downs or curfews; to ensure people’s access to basic services; and that all due process rights are respected for those who have been detained. It is important that the people of Kashmir are consulted and engaged in any decision-making processes that have an impact on their future,” she added.

India, Pakistan set to battle it out at UNHRC session over Kashmir issue today

India and Pakistan are set to battle it out over Kashmir during the ongoing 42nd UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session on Tuesday. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is on a three-day visit to Geneva, is expected to lead the Pakistani charge over Kashmir issue at the UNHRC session. India too, has prepared its top guns to lead the charge. 

The Indian delegation is led by Ajay Bisaria, the India High Commissioner to Pakistan who was sent back after Pakistan unilaterally downgraded ties, and Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary East.