MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th March, 2019) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Wednesday she was concerned over Kashmir region tensions between India and Pakistan and encouraged both states to invite her office to monitor the situation with rights.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said earlier in the day that the tensions between the two countries were de-escalating and Pakistan would send its high commissioner, previously recalled over Kashmir disagreement, back to the Indian capital of New Delhi.
"I remain concerned about the ongoing tensions in Kashmir ... I encourage both India and Pakistan to invite my office to monitor the situation on the ground and to assist both states to address the human rights issues that must be part of any solution to the conflict," Bachelet said, presenting her annual report.
The tensions escalated dramatically after a February 14 terrorist attack on an Indian military convoy in Kashmir, which killed more than 40 people. A Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack. Later in February, India carried out an airstrike in the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir, targeting what it said was a training camp of the terrorist group.
In a separate note on India, the commissioner pointed out that inequality remained a serious issue in the country, although the poverty had been reduced significantly. Bachelet added that some minority groups, including Muslims, were being harassed more and more often.
