Petitions (Commons) on 1) India in the Jammu and Kashmir Region and 2) Dispute in Kashmir - Nov 4
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India in the Jammu and Kashmir Region The petition of residents of
Burnley, Declares that the attached petition calls on the actions
of India in the occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir should be
resolved to a peaceful conclusion that is acceptable to the
residents of Kashmir; notes that the Indian decision to revoke
Article 370 and 35A of the Indian...Request free trial
India in the Jammu and Kashmir RegionThe petition of residents of Burnley, Declares that the attached petition calls on the actions of India in the occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved to a peaceful conclusion that is acceptable to the residents of Kashmir; notes that the Indian decision to revoke Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution has caused killings and human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir; further that the communications blackout in Indian occupied Kashmir has been distressing for residents with families in the region and has stifled journalism on the issue; and further that concerned residents of Burnley many of whom have family in the area have self-organised to create a petition that has received over 1046 signatures to call for action on the issue. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to compel the Foreign Secretary to call for an end to the communications lockdown, lifting the curfew and the compliance of all past United Nations resolutions relating to Kashmir by the State of India. And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Julie Cooper.] [P002544] OBSERVATIONSForeign and Commonwealth OfficeDispute in KashmirThe petition of Residents of the City of Glasgow, Declares that the dispute in Kashmir should be resolved peacefully. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the UK Government to use its international standing to encourage India to engage in a comprehensive and sustained dialogue process with its neighbour Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute, and urge the international community to play its role in securing a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Alison Thewliss, Official Report, 4 September 2019; Vol. 664, c. 317.] [P002512] Another petition in the same terms was presented by the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Alison Thewliss) [P002524]. Petitions in the same terms were also presented by the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Neil Gray) [P002516] and the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) [P002529]. Observations from the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon): The long-standing position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution on Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people; it is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or act as a mediator. We have spoken with the Governments of India and Pakistan on a number of occasions since 5 August. The Prime Minister has underlined the importance of resolving issues through dialogue to both Prime Minister Modi of India and Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary has spoken with the Indian Minister of External Affairs to express the UK’s concerns around the situation in India-administered Kashmir and call for calm. Lord Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia, has also spoken on a number of occasions with both the Indian High Commissioner, Ruchi Ghanashyam and the Pakistani High Commissioner, Mohammad Nafees Zakaria about the situation, as well as to Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister for Minority Affairs, during his recent visit to New Delhi. We encourage both India and Pakistan to maintain good relations, but recognise that the pace of progress is for both sides to determine. |