Kashmir Digits

The British government is monitoring the trial of Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik very closely, UK Foreign Office minister Tariq Ahmad told the House of Lords on Tuesday.

Responding to a question, Minister of State in the Foreign Office, Lord Tariq Ahmed, said: “On the specific issue of the trial of Mr Yasin Malik… we are monitoring it very closely. We do note he has been charged under the Indian law… and therefore we cannot intervene in the independent judicial process of India directly. However, in all our engagements we urge all countries to always respect their own international obligations regarding the treatment of any detainees.”

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The minister, who is in-charge of South Asia and the Commonwealth in the Foreign Office, was responding to questions in the Upper House of the UK Parliament on a range of issues when he was asked about the trial of Malik by Pakistani-origin Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Qurban Hussain, under the heading of “Human Rights Situation in Indian-administered Kashmir”.

Describing Malik as a “prominent Kashmiri leader, who has a huge following in the UK as well”, Hussain claimed that Kashmiris suspect the Indian government “wants to get rid of him too”.

“His life is in real danger,” Lord Hussain asserted, as he asked: “Will the government use its good offices to protect Mr Yasin Malik’s life?”

Replying to an earlier query, Lord Ahmed had said: “The United Kingdom government encourages all states to ensure their domestic laws are in line with international standards. Indeed, any allegation of human rights is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, properly and transparently… We raise concerns with the governments of both India and Pakistan.”

Lord Hussain had asked what assessment the British government had made “of the human rights situation” in Jammu and Kashmir.

Subsequently, Indian-origin peer Lord Rami Ranger made a powerful intervention against Pakistan.

He said Hussain knows that “two Sikh traders in Peshawar were murdered last week because of their religion”.

“People in Pakistan like Ahmediyas, Sikhs, Christians and Hindus are persecuted, forcibly converted, Shia mosques are attacked… I would like to ask who is supplying arms to terrorists in Kashmir, who is training them, who is encouraging them to create disruption in paradise,” Lord Ranger asked.

Lord Ahmed tackled this by saying: “I am acutely aware of the challenges minority communities face in Pakistan and we again raise these in a constructive way… It’s important for both countries to move forward mutually together and agree that there is a bright future for both countries…”

“On Kashmir, it is important for both countries to move forward mutually and agree that there is a bright future for both countries who share so much in terms of culture and language, and one hopes a common shared future in terms of shared prosperity for the wider region,” said Ahmad.