PM Imran, Amnesty boss talk 'human rights, humanitarian situation' in occupied Kashmir

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Prime Minister Imran Khan was called upon by Amnesty International Secretary General Komi Naidoo in New York, US, September 22, 2019. Twitter/Kumi Naidoo (@kuminaidoo)/via Geo.tv

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Imran Khan and Amnesty International Secretary General Komi Naidoo on Sunday talked about the "dire human rights and humanitarian situation" in occupied Kashmir as the latter called upon the former.

PM Imran, who reached the United States a day prior to attend the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), appreciated Amnesty International's role "in presenting the real state of human rights in the occupied territory and amplifying the voices of the Kashmiri population in a state of seven-week long lockdown" ever "since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019".

According to the statement, Amnesty's work and "efforts had helped raise international community’s awareness about the continuing suffering of the Kashmiri people".

The premier expressed his gratitude to Naidoo for the fact that the British human rights NGO published a report on India's use of pellet guns and the devastating impact they had on the Kashmiri folks.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who was also in the meeting, "noted that the two UN reports on Kashmir served as a strong basis for continued civil society advocacy in support of the Kashmiri people", the statement read.

Naidoo, on the other hand, briefed PM Imran on "Amnesty’s advocacy work on Kashmir including #LetKashmirSpeak", it said, adding that the Amnesty boss "updated the Prime Minister on Amnesty’s work relating to climate justice and suggested consideration of Global South advocacy by the Prime Minister on a range of climate change related issues".

On his Twitter account, Naidoo termed the discussion with PM Imran a "good meeting". He added: "Also discussed the situation in Kashmir, where both India &Pakistan must implement @UNHumanRights recommendations."

Earlier today, PM Imran arrived in New York for a week-long visit, during which he would hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries and participate in high-level UN summits on climate change, sustainable development, universal health coverage, and financing for development.

PM Imran's visit to the US is expected to be Kashmir-centric, revolving around India's decision to revoke the special status of occupied Kashmir and the ongoing human rights abuses in the disputed territory.

Apart from FM Qureshi, Dr Hafeez Shaikh and Zulfiqar Bukhari — the adviser on finance and special assistant on overseas Pakistanis, respectively — accompanied the prime minister.

PM Imran is slated to address the UNGA 74th session on September 27. Prior to that, he would meet the heads of various states and apprise them about the Indian government’s violations of human rights in the valley.

The premier is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday.