European Union will follow the situation in Kashmir

Toronto:The EU supports the reconciliation process between New Delhi and Islamabad over the disputed territory of Kashmir and wants accountability of armed forces responsible for abuses against civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Ms. Maria Castillo Fernandez, Head of the India Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS), conveys her thanks to Mr Mushtaq A. Jeelani, Executive Director of Peace and Justice Forum (PJF), for his letter to the European Commission President Mr José Manuel Barroso regarding the unresolved Kashmir issue.

“Thank you for your letter of 20 December 2013 addressed to the European Commission President Mr José Manuel Barroso, on the human rights situation in Kashmir. President Barroso has asked me to reply on his behalf,” writes Ms. Fernandez.

“The EU is well aware of the prevailing situation in Kashmir and follows developments in the disputed territory of Kashmir closely,” underlines Ms. Fernandez.

The Head of the India Division at EEAS elaborates: “It has indeed been a longstanding position of the EU to support the reconciliation process between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, particularly through dialogue, and to call for the Kashmiri people themselves to be as involved as possible in this process.”

Ms. Fernandez underscores, “The EU has regularly engaged with Indian authorities, both as State and Central level, and with civil society representatives in various consultation formats, addressing our [EU’s] concerns about human rights in those contexts.”

She adds, “Several projects funded under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights have been recently part of this effort.” Moreover, Ms. Fernandez says, “The Dialogue Initiative for Peace and Conflict Resolution in Kashmir which foresaw the inclusion and sustained partnership of civil society stakeholders on both sides is particularly noteworthy.”

“In its talks with India, the EU has consistently urged placing human rights protection mechanisms at the centre of any attempt to ensure responsibility for abuses against civilians. The question of accountability of armed forces is also raised in the EU’s annual Human Rights Dialogue with the Government of India,” stresses the Head of the India Division at EEAS.

“Please rest assured that the EU will continue following the situation in Kashmir with due attention in the future,” concludes Ms. Fernandez.