UN High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has asked India and Pakistan to grant it unconditional access to both sides on the Line of Control for assessing the situation in Kashmir.
In his opening statement at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the High Commissioner on human rights said, “Two months ago, I requested the agreement of the Governments of India and Pakistan to invite teams from my Office to visit both sides of the Line of Control.”
He said that they have received reports claiming the Indian authorities had used force excessively against the civilian population.
“We had previously received reports, and still continue to do so, claiming the Indian authorities had used force excessively against the civilian population under its administration. I believe an independent, impartial and international mission is now needed crucially and that it should be given free and complete access to establish an objective assessment of the claims made by the two sides,” he said.
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Hussein stated that Pakistan has already invited an OHCHR team to the Pakistani side of the line of control.
“I have yet to receive a formal letter from the Government of India. I, therefore, request here and publicly, from the two Governments, access that is unconditional to both sides of the line of control,” he said.