On Friday, 16 European Parliamentarians wrote to the European Commission urging the European Union to “raise its voice against the violations of human rights affecting the people of Jammu Kashmir.”
The letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that the legislations introduced by the Indian governments in the past “including the Special Powers Act (SPA), the Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), have been often misused against the Kashmiri population.”
The letter read that the issue was not a humanitarian crisis alone and that the long-standing dispute in the South Asian region, also posed a major threat to peace, stability and security in the region.
“Being a flash point between 2 nuclear-armed countries, we are worried that any miscalculation can lead to unwarranted consequences,” it said.
The letter mentions how the delicate security in the valley further deteriorated as the local population continuously protests the revocation of the special status of Jammu Kashmir and the “controvert Indian Citizenship Amendment Act causing unrest and strife within the valley adding to the volatility and tensions between the militaries of India and Pakistan.”
The 16 European Parliamentarians request the president of the European Commission and the High Representative to raise its voice against the violations of human rights affecting the people of Jammu Kashmir as “a champion of universal human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule-based international order.”
They say that it is their belief that the EU uses all its leverage and tools to cooperate with India and Pakistan to “honour the pledge made to the Kashmiris by the international community and create an environment conducive to implementation of the United Nations (UN) resolutions.”
The Parliamentarians also vouch to continue their engagements with the Parliaments of India, Pakistan as well as the Kashmiri leaders, “to impress upon them the urgent need to foster a
climate of peace and dialogue in the region.”
The letter says that it was extremely important that the voices of Kashmiri people are heard and that the aspirations of the Kashmiris are responded to and that “they are granted the opportunity to decide their own future.”
The 16 Parliamentarians called upon the Commission President and the High Representative on behalf of the European Union to:
– to convey their “grave concerns at the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Indian-administered Jammu Kashmir to the Indian Government;”
– “to take urgent action to address the alarming human rights situation in the region;”
– “and to contribute to the peace and stability of the region enhancing dialogues with India, Pakistan and the representatives of Kashmiri people” by making use of their special relationships with both India and Pakistan to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the two neighbours and also “to resolve the dispute through peaceful means and in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.”
Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Javier Nart, Chiara Maria Gemma were among the 16 European Parliamentarians who wrote the letter.