The UN rights office hammered India and Pakistan on Monday for failing to improve the situation in Kashmir, while renewing calls for an international probe into violations in the disputed Himalayan region. Last year, the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released its first-ever report on Kashmir, documenting wrongdoing by both sides and urging action to reduce long-standing tensions.
In a follow up report, the rights office said "neither India nor Pakistan have taken any concrete steps to address the numerous concerns raised." "In Indian-Administered Kashmir, accountability for violations committed by members of the Indian security forces remains virtually non-existent," the report said. The groundbreaking 2018 findings were particularly hard on India, highlighting "chronic impunity" for misconduct by troops.
Pakistan welcomed the 2018 findings. "No steps have been taken to resolve the main issues, including a number of highly problematic legal restrictions," the rights office said Monday. Given the failure of both states to address the issues raised, the report calls on the UN Human Rights Council to again consider creating "a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir". The rights office shared the report with both countries last month.
According to the UN, India requested the report not be published and dismissed the findings as "fallacious, tendentious and [politically] motivated" - similar wording to New Delhi's rejection of the 2018 report. Pakistan again "welcomed the report," the rights office said.
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