39th Session UNHRC: Intervention by Mr. Junaid Qureshi - Director EFSAS
18-09-2018, Geneva
Text and video of the Intervention made by Mr. Junaid Qureshi, Director European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), on General Debate Item 4 (Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention) during the 39th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva.
Video of Mr. Junaid Qureshi's Intervention on General Debate Item 4 during the 39th Session of the UNHRC
"Mr. Vice President,
I would like to draw the Council’s attention to the first ever Report on Jammu & Kashmir by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Prima facie, as a Kashmiri, it is assuaging to note, that such an eminent office has after all accepted, that we Kashmiris are also worthy of Human Rights.
Yet, it is a cruel irony with the people of Jammu & Kashmir that this Report chose to take the killing of a terrorist in 2016, as the starting point of our 70 year-long sufferings.
The Report did not start with Pakistan’s violent invasion of Jammu & Kashmir in 1947 and subsequent illegal occupation, which has caused the forced division of my land and people.
The High Commissioner seems not to be sensitive to history that ancient, but surely he must know what happened 30 years ago, when Pakistan fomented its proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir by creating, funding and training terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taibah, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
This blatant export of terrorism emanating from Pakistan continues even today and has shattered peace and ruptured the social fabric of my Homeland.
Still, it did not warrant a mention in the said Report.
Mr. Vice President,
Respect for human rights is universal and paramount, and applies to all countries including India and Pakistan.
However, through its incorrect narrative based on serious historical omissions, and factual errors, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has failed miserably at conveying this simple, yet important message.
Thank you".
