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The Pakistani Foreign Minister on Tuesday (September 10th) asked the UN Human Rights Council to open an investigation into New Delhi's actions in Indian Kashmir. Reuters

Pakistan fears genocide in Kashmir and is calling for an investigation, this morning its Foreign Minister, who was speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, said this morning. On Monday, 9 September, at the opening of the session, Michèle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she was " very concerned by the recent actions of the Indian government on the human rights of the Kashmiris " .

In Geneva, the Pakistani Foreign Minister asked the Human Rights Council to open an inquiry into India's actions in Indian Kashmir, fearing that " genocide " would occur there.

The population of occupied Jammu and Kashmir expects the worst. I tremble to mention the term "genocide" here, but it has to be. According to the Convention on the Crimes of Genocide, Kashmiris living in the occupied part of the territory face serious threats to their lives as a national, ethnic, racial and religious group, threats coming from murderous, misogynist and xenophobic regime. An NGO based in the United States has already issued an alert, saying the situation has gone through the 10 steps leading up to the genocide. If India has nothing to hide, it must allow unhindered access to a commission of inquiry as recommended by the High Commissioner. In Pakistan, we are ready to give this commission or any other mechanism access to our side of the line of control, while the same type of access is given to the side occupied by the Indians. Mr. President, the Human Rights Council must hear the request of the Kashmiri people, and respond to the warning signs of a disaster.

Shah Mehmood Quresh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan 10/09/2019 - by RFI Play

Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, is the scene of many clashes. In early August, tensions were revived due to the revocation by the Indian authorities of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir . Pakistan, accused by New Delhi of stirring up the insurgency in Indian Kashmir and arming jihadist groups, is not fading. " In the past six weeks, this territory has been transformed by India into the largest prison on the planet, " said the Pakistani minister.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi also supported calls by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for an international investigation: " There should be measures to bring to justice the perpetrators of human rights violations (...) and therefore create an international commission of inquiry ". Pakistan fears that India will " attack " Pakistan in the name of fighting " terrorism ".